A preliminary study of the presence of some organic pollutants in topsoil samples in industrial area of Elbasan, Albania

This research was carried out in the city of Elbasan, which represents an important urban and industrial area of Albania. This industrial complex, build in 1962, has been all these years the major source of organic and inorganic pollution of the surrounding area. The analyses of pollutants were performed in topsoil samples taken in eleven stations. The target organic pollutants were BTEX (benzene, toluene, ethylbenzene and xylenes), MTBE, poly aromatic and aliphatic hydrocarbons, HCHs, DDT-related chemicals and some PCB markers. After extraction and clean-up, the samples were injected in a gas chromatograph Varian 450, with µECD and FID detector. Rtx-5 capillary column was used for separation of chlorinated pollutants and VF-1ms was used for BTEX and PAH analysis. The concentrations of PAHs in soil samples were much lower than those of volatile hydrocarbons. MTBE was detected in all samples, but BTEX were found only in some of them. The rapid urbanization and industrial activity are the most important sources of organic pollution in topsoil samples of this industrial area. (author)