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Introduction
Mitrovica is a north-eastern city of Kosova known for, among others, being the city where the mining complex Trepca, one of the biggest mining complexes in Europe, is located. The mining complex is divided into Trepca South and Trepca North and consists of 14 operations split into eight mines, three concentrators, two smelting plants, and a fertilizer plant. Trepca’s main industrial plant is the Lead-Zinc smelter, located in Zvecan, 1.5 km from Mitrovica. The heavy metals that were mined in Trepca were lead, zinc, and silver; although the mine is known to also have reserves of other precious minerals and metals such as gold. Trepca is known to have among the biggest reserves in Europe in metals such as Lead, Zinc, Bauxit, Nickel etc. Except for lignite which is found in the region of Obilic in Kosovo, the other metals listed below are all found in their respective quantities in the Trepca mine.
Note. From “Environmental Management in Kosovo - Heavy Metal emission from Trepca” by D.S. Fresse, R.Klitgaard, & E. K.Pedersen, 2004, TekSam.
The history of mining activity dates back thousands of years, when Romans and later the Kingdom of Serbia used to make their coins from the metals dug from Trepca. The Trepca mine has been “engaged with large-scale exploitation since 1925, when a British Mining Company bought the rights to exploit the heavy metal reserves in the area”.(Fresse, Klitgaard, and Pedersen, 2004) During “World War II, the Stari Trg mine produced 40% of the Pb used by German industry. In the period 1930-1950, 825 000 t Pb, 566 000 t Zn, 1022 t Ag and a similar quantity of Bi were produced. At that time, about 20 000 miners were working there.” (Borgna et al., 2009) However, Trepca has not been in operation since 2000 and it is judged to have “deteriorated to a state beyond repair.” (Fresse, Klitgaard, and Pedersen, 2004). From the near century long operation of mining and smelting in the region and also from the exposure of the stored ore to wind and rain, the surrounding area has become to be one of the most heavy metal contaminated sites in Europe.
Soil pollution with heavy metals
The processing of ore in the smelter of Zvecan released large quantities of particulate matter and gaseous emissions and produced large bulks of metallurgical and mining waste that accumulated in large landfills. “At the end of the 1990s, the overall emission of dust from the Zvecan smelter was estimated at 730 t/year, and over time about 40,000,000 tons of tailings accumulated in the Zvecan area”.(Stafilov, Aliu, & Sajn, 2010). Researchers from the University of Siena conducted a study of the level of heavy metals in the soil surrounding Trepca and their findings are summarized in the table below. 
Note. From: “The high contents of lead in soils of northern Kosovo” by L. Borgna, L. A. Di Lella, F. Nannonni, A. Pisani, E. Pizzatti, G. Protano, F. Riccobono, & S. Rossi, 2009, Journal of Geochemical Exploration, 101(2), 137-146.
From the table we can see that in general, the lead (Pb) concentrations in the Mitrovica topsoils considerably exceed the worldwide average for soil, which is 17 mg/kg, and also the upper limit for unpolluted soils, namely 50 mg/kg. Additionally, Mitrovica’s topsoils have a mean Zinc (Zn) level of 560 mg/kg which is significantly above the global baseline in soil (70 mg/kg). The soil seems to be contaminated with antimony (Sb) as well, with its mean value being 19.3 mg/kg, which is a dramatically higher value than the normal which is 0.2 - 0.5mg/kg. Cadmium concentrations are worrying as well and they range from 0.37 up to 67.9 mg/kg, with a median value of 2.03 mg/kg (Table 1). One of the most disturbing findings was also the level of Arsenic. The mean value of Arsenic (As) in the topsoil for the area was 87.1 mg/kg, which is more than 20 times higher than the European maximum allowed value. The tremendously high levels of Arsenic were confirmed by other studies as well. (Stafilov, Aliu, & Sajn, 2010). Below there’s a map that shows the spatial distribution of Arsenic as well as the concentration levels in specific areas. 
Note. From: “Arsenic in Surface Soils Affected by Mining and Metallurgical Processing in K. Mitrovica Region, Kosovo” by T. Stafilov, M. Aliu, R. Sajn, 2004, Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 7, no. 11.
Additionally, the researchers from the University of Siena also found that “the highest concentrations of Pb, Cu, As and Sb were in topsoils close to the Zvecan Pb-Zn smelter” but with above standard contamination reaching up to 20 km.(Borgna et al., 2009) Moreover, other studies have confirmed that the pollution in this area is very mobile, which allows for easier spreading in the surrounding areas. (Nannoni, Protano, & Riccobono, 2011a; Nannoni, Protano, & Riccobono, 2011b) Fortunately, when measuring for the depth of the pollution they found that “the concentrations of heavy elements related to mining activities (As, Cd, Cu, Pb, Sb, Zn) significantly decreased with depth.”(Borgna et al., 2009)
Water pollution by heavy metals
Water is a crucial resource for people, it is one resource that man needs for its daily functioning. Water helps people stay alive, but nevertheless, it can also be as harmful and kill people whenever it is not treated well and if it is not controlled and managed over contamination and pollution.
In normal living conditions a man needs 1-2.5 l of drinking water per day, whereas the daily expenses in developed countries are much bigger (up to 1500 l per day). Regions (countries) with less than 1700 m3 water per capita per year are considered as countries in water deficit. The drinking water quantity in Kosova is approximately 1600 m3 per person per year, and consequently Kosova belong to the range of poor drinking water countries in Europe and wider (Behrami, Bajraktari, & Zogaj, 2008, p. 1).
Kosova’s waters are in an alarming state regarding quality, the water contamination is very high, especially in Mitrovica. Thus is in a state of an environmental degradation as its waters are highly polluted.
The surface water quality in Kosova is not satisfying, whereas in Mitrovica region the state is concerned. By rapid industrial development, concentration of population in urban areas, inadequate treatment of waste waters and their discharge in water flows (rivers), the quality of surface and ground waters in Mitrovica area is decreasing (Behrami, Bajraktari, & Zogaj, 2008, p. 1).
Mitrovica is based on north of Kosovo region. This part of Kosovo is known as the main part on natural resources (raw material industry), and also the most polluted city not just in Kosovo, but also in Europe (Behrami, Bajraktari, & Zogaj, 2008, p. 1).
Furthermore, knowing that Mitrovica is rich on natural resources, the high concentration of different metals in waters makes it very polluted. Moreover, the industrial activities and its waste waters make the water pollution even more dramatic.
The quality of sediment in the river system is seriously affected by pollutants which enter through drains that bring domestic as well as industrial effluents. These industrial and domestic waste waters, besides other pollutants also contain high concentration of heavy metals. Because of adsorption, hydrolysis and co-precipitation only a small portion of free metal ions stay dissolved in water and a large quantity of them get deposited in the sediment (Beg and Ali, 2008).
Analysis of water quality have shown that there are different substances found in the waters, different chemical substances and heavy metal elements.
Polluting substances that are thrown in these rivers is non-organic and organic. On the contamination of non-organic do take place the following elements; metals, which they are leaden, zinc, cadmium, fluorspars etc, whereas on the organic substance contamination do take place composite extremely dangerous which they do contain Phenol. Rivers Iber and Sitnica during a year they do take approximately 83 million m3 contaminated water from the industry in Kastriot and Mitrovica. The majority of this contaminated water is thrown in Sitnica (91%), which it makes this river as a collector of industrial water. Just from the metal-rock from “Trepca”, in a period of just a year, there are thrown over 150 ton leaden, 500 ton zinc and 900 ton fluoride. Also from other factors that we have not mentioned above, contamination has been thrown in these rivers (Behrami, Bajraktari, & Zogaj, 2008, p. 4).
Source: (Behrami, Bajraktari, & Zogaj, 2008)
Another study on different springs found around cities of Kosovo, in this case the spring “Kroi i Fshatit” in Mitrovica, has analyzed and brought up results about the numerical values of heavy metals found in this spring.
The Table 5 shows the physical and chemical results of 16 parameters examined with the spring "Kroi i Fshatit ", which is to be found in village Zhazhe, Municipality of Mitrovica. It falls into the basin of river Iber and is partly used by the Community. The bearing capacity of this spring is small 0.234-0.295 l/s, the water temperature is a bit higher in summer season, when compared to the WHO’standards. The pH of water is acidic in both seasons of examination (4.0 -3.92). The dissolved oxygen has notably a higher value in spring season. The spring “Kroi i Fshatit" results in higher levels with heavy metals, Ni and Pb. The high levels of heavy metals are mainly as a result of geomorphologic structure of the zone, since the water resources are very near the Trepça Smelter (Krasniqi, Fejza, Avdullahi, Vasjari, Vaso, Krasniqi, & Behrami, 2010, p. 190).
Source: (Krasniqi, Fejza, Avdullahi, Vasjari, Vaso, Krasniqi, & Behrami, 2010)
The concentration of heavy metals such as Manganese, Nickel, Lead, Cadmium, Chrome, Zinc, Iron etc. in waters is high in the Mitrovica region, indeed the concentration percentage of some of these metals exceed the percentage standards permitted by the WHO.
The spring "Kroi i Fshatit" Krasaliç exceeds the levels of Ni and Pb. The high levels of Pb may be as a result of anthropogenic pollution and be attributed to geochemical phone. The spring "Kroi i Fshatit"- Zhazhe , located in Mitrovica, results evidently in higher levels with heavy metals such as Mn, Ni, and Pb, compared to permitted values of the WHO. Such higher levels of heavy metals are mainly a result of geomorphologic structure of the zone where the springs fall into (Krasniqi, Fejza, Avdullahi, Vasjari, Vaso, Krasniqi, & Behrami, 2010, p. 194).
The Figure 3 shows the level of heavy metals in percentage with the spring “Kroi I Fashatit”, located in Zhazhe, Municipality of Mitrovica. As can be seen from this Graph of the spring, Mn exceeds the levels permitted by the WHO’s standards by 64 %, Ni by 26 % and Pb by 10%. The results obtained from these springs show that there is a strong connection of heavy metals to the environment through which the water flows from the studied springs (Krasniqi, Fejza, Avdullahi, Vasjari, Vaso, Krasniqi, & Behrami, 2010, p. 191).
Source: (Krasniqi, Fejza, Avdullahi, Vasjari, Vaso, Krasniqi, & Behrami, 2010)
Additional studies on the two main Rivers in Mitrovica, the Iber river and Sitnica river, have been conducted over the analysis on river sediments to understand the rate of contamination by the heavy metals.
Heavy metal concentrations in the fine fraction of investigated sediments can be compared with sediments of the other rivers. However, the metal content in bulk sample better reflects pollution of sediments. Ibër river bed sediments consist exclusively of medium grained sands <1 mm and just this fraction were analyzed for metal content. The sediment from of Ibër River was analyzed for four selected metals (Zn, Pb, Cd and Cu). The measured concentrations of heavy metals in sediments on individual stations are given (depicted) in table 1 and figures 2-5 (Rexhepi, Rugova, & Arbneshi, 2010, p. 3)
Source: (Rexhepi, Rugova, & Arbneshi, 2010, p. 3)
. In the surrounding of the chemical industry very high content of zinc and lead were found in the sediment of Ibër River. Concentrations of zinc ranged from 55.8 µg/g dry weight in sampling place Zhabare on February 2008, to 338.7 µg/g dry weight in sampling place Mitrovica 2 on November 2008. The highest concentrations of zinc have been detected in the same sampling sites Mitrovica 1 (270.4 -288.6 µg/g dry weight) and Mitrovica 2 (321.5 - 338.7 µg/g dry weight), (table 1 and figure 2). Particularly high is the zinc content which, in last sample place, varies between 321.5 - 338.7 µg/g (ppm). It is much higher than the pollution of larger European rivers (Helios-Rybicka et al., 2000 and Vink, et al., 1999). Similar contamination occurs in rivers receiving effluents from zinc and lead mines (Warren, 1981). As can be seen from the graph in Figure 2 the amount of zinc at sampling point Zhabare isn’t exceed the values of standard TEL, situation has changed in Suhadoll samples, they significantly exceeds its values. Also in two other sample places (Mitrovica 1 and Mitrovica 2) level of concentration of zinc is higher than the standard PEL, as a result of this, the quality of Sediment in these two sample places is not satisfactory (Rexhepi, Rugova, & Arbneshi, 2010, p. 4)
Source: (Rexhepi, Rugova, & Arbneshi, 2010)
Concentrations of lead ranged from 20.3 µg/g dry weights in sampling place Zhabare on November 2008, to 135.45 µg/g dry weights in sampling place Mitrovica 2 on August 2008. The highest concentrations of lead have been detected in the same sampling sites Mitrovica 1 (113.25 -116.8µg/g dry weight) and Mitrovica 2 (133.05 - 135.45 µg/g dry weight), (table 1 and figure 3),” (Rexhepi, Rugova, & Arbneshi, 2010) (Rexhepi, Rugova, & Arbneshi, 2010. P5)
Air pollution with heavy metals
Another issue that is to be concerned because of its negative effect in environment is air pollution, also caused by mining. As a largess mining in Kosova, “Mitrovica is surrounded with industrial waste. In the town itself is a dump Mitrovica Industrial Park (MIP) containing residues of neutral last processing stage of zinc, pyrite, and other ferric minerals.” (Shala, Sadiku, Rexha, Dragusha & Shala, 2011)
In Mitrovica there are special areas where dump is thrown, “This landfill is located in area of 35 hectares, while the total mass of these residues is 1500 000 tones. These residues include: iron, lead, zinc, cadmium and other associated metals arsenic, antimony, indium and silver.” (Shala at al. 2011)But there are also other areas, since previous one, even though it looks huge, it does not fulfill requirements. “Other landfill that "contributes" to the pollution of environment in region Mitrovica is the Industrial Park in Zvecan (IPZ), which is spread in the area of 50 hectares. This dump contains about 12 million tons of waste from the flotation process and 2.5 million tons of waste from the metallurgical process of lead. Another landfill is Kelmendi that contains waste from flotation process; it is estimated about 9 million tons waste. This landfill as well as that of Zvecan contains iron, lead, zinc, cadmium and other associated elements in smaller quantities.” (Shala at al. 2011)In addition, the adequate equipment used to minimize the effect of pollution are not working properly because these equipment has been used many years.“The plant does not operate currently, the waste is piled up in the open air and due to a lack of street cleaning equipment dust with a high lead concentration keeps circulating [3]”. (Shala at al. 2011) Since then, the side effects are obvious especially in urban areas “during the summer and winter, present the case of smog, which leads to a greater deterioration of air quality.” (Shala at al. 2011)
“Dust emissions containing toxic elements are a further source for contaminant disposition in the region. Mitrovica city, and its south-east part in particular, has a high level of pollution with the dust particles, where the maximum value reaches 5560.8mg/m2/day, which exceeds WHO recommended values for 20 times.” (Shala at al. 2011) Here is the table representing standards and limits set by European Organization compare to those in Kosova different areas. 
Note: Adopted form “Industrial landfill source of air pollution in mitrovica” by Shala, F., M. Sadiku, B. Rexha, B. Dragusha, and S. Shala, p. 40.
Citizens around this area are affected negatively by the heavy metal pollution. “Atmospheric transport leads to serious heavy metal pollution of a waste area. The citizens of Mitrovica and surroundings experience airborne lead concentrations at or near the EU limit value of 0,5 µg/m3, coming from the Trepca Industrial Complex.” (Shala at al. 2011)
Another study done by “Shllaku (1992) cited in Klitgaard et al. (2004) showed that blood lead concentrations in inhabitants of Mitrovica were several times higher than in the inhabitants of Pristina. In 12% of the children living in Mitrovica, the blood lead levels exceeded 70 µg/dL and in 35 % lead concentrations were 50-69 µg/dL. It was estimated that about 9 000 children in Mitrovice might have blood lead concentrations above 40 µg/dL. It was also found that lead blood levels in pregnant women were more than three times higher in Mitrovica than in Pristina. For comparison, severe lead poisoning, at levels exceeding 70 µg/dl of blood can lead to encephalopathy and death. A dose of 30 µg/dL is currently regarded as elevated and levels of 10 µg/dl and over potentially harmful, especially during development” (Shala at al. 2011)
“The collected samples were analyzed for heavy metals concerning the objectives of the project “Environmental Assessment and Remedial Action Plan for Mitrovica Industrial Park”. The elements of interest are as follows: (Shala, Dragusha & Sadiku, 2012)
• HM – heavy metals: Cd, Cu, Pb, Zn
• Other metals: Mn 
Note: Adapted from “Air pollution in the area around the mining complex Trepça in Kosovo” by F. Shala, B. Dragusha, and M. Sadiku, p. 313
Health effects of heavy metal pollution
Mining and metallurgic economic activities have a long history in Mitrovica and Zvecan municipalities of northern Kosovo. After these activities closed down in 2000, UNMIK, in November of that year, produced an environmental report on the lead situation in Mitrovica. In 2004, WHO, in collaboration with UNMIK and local institutions, conducted a Health Risk Assessment to determine the extent and routes of exposure of children to heavy metals in these municipalities. According to this study, the overall population in Mitrovica has elevated levels of heavy metals, especially lead, but the samples from the three RAE IDP Camps had the most alarming lead levels in the blood (Meehan & Mailman, 2005).
Heavy metal pollution is a very dangerous and a life threatening contamination that has a wide effect on human health, thus causing sicknesses of different types, damaging different human organs, and it can also cause death. As an inhabitant in Mitrovica, it is a very risky place of being intoxicated, especially facing Lead contamination which is high in Mitrovica region.
Lead is one of the best known toxic heavy metals, and has become a general environmental contaminant. Lead in the environment has multiple sources (e.g. petrol, industrial process, paint, solder in canned foods, water pipes) and reaches people via a numbers of pathways such as air, household dust, street dirt, soil, water food (Prathumratana, Kim & Woong Kim, 2008, p. 479).
Lead can enter the body through the following means: inhalation, ingestion of the soil itself or food grown where the soil is contaminated, and through the placenta of the fetus in the womb. Nutrition, hygiene, ratio of body fat, fiber intake, age and overall physiological makeup all affect the speed at which the body absorbs lead. Children between birth and six years old are the most vulnerable as they are in the primary stages of growth and development. Lead poisoning affects the entire body and has severe and permanent health consequences. Potential symptoms of exposure to lead, even at low levels, include loss of appetite, lethargy, high blood pressure, fertility problems for men and women, premature birth, stunted growth, hearing damage, neurological damage, seizures, pain and/or paralysis in the legs, dropping in and out of consciousness, anemia, increased aggression, stomach cramps, and vomiting. People suffering from lead poisoning can be asymptomatic. According to the WHO reports, the most significant and irreversible effect is on IQ levels. An increase in blood lead level from 10 to 20 micrograms per deciliter has been associated with a decrease of 2.6 IQ points, but any incremental increase above 20 further reduces IQ levels (Meehan & Mailman, 2005).
Different International organizations have conducted surveys and analysis on the heavy metals contamination and its risk on health. Similarly, the World Health Organization has set sights on analyzing the state of heavy metal contamination, specifically the area known as Roma Camps.
WHO and a local institution conducted a health risk assessment in May-July 2004. Based on the findings of the assessment, WHO presented in December an action plan for the Roma Camps to assist in decreasing the excessive exposure of the Roma population to heavy metals. Indeed, more than 90% of the soil samples taken by WHO exceeded the United Kingdom limits for lead (450 mg/Kg), with many samples having levels 10 times higher than the limit; more than 40% exceeded the limit for arsenic levels; and almost 30% exceeded the limit for cadmium levels. Therefore, the soil contamination appeared to be an obvious source of contamination and concern in the Roma camps. Other sources, such as the lead mine tailings, the lead paint covering most doors and window frames, the food grown on contaminated soil, trans-placental exposure as well as private smelting activities and poor hygienic conditions of the camps, also contributed to the increase in human exposure to lead contamination (OSCE, 2009, p. 5).
Soil in Mitrovica contains significantly high amount of lead exceeding the acceptable level. The obtained results indicated that people in IDP camps and the relocation area, Roma Mahala, are still living in the unsafe environment even the smelter has been closed down for more than seven years. A continuous monitoring of environment and assessment of lead and heavy metals exposure should be implemented. Therefore, the future research will be focused on an update health risk assessment of lead for the minority community in Mitrovica, Kosovo. Lead concentration and isotopic ratio will be measured in environmental samples of Roma, Ashkali and Egyptian internal displaced persons (RAE IDP) camps Osterode, Cesmin lug and Leposavic) including soil, tailings and batteries. The lead isotopes will be compared with the data of biological samples of blood lead, skeleton tissue and hair (Prathumratana, Kim & Woong Kim, 2008, p. 482).
The results derived from those studies and investigations were shocking and as such they set ground for a public mobilization and a wide scope of organization and co-ordination of works so that people who were living in areas of heavy metal contamination to be relocated in a safer place as people and children were facing serious health issues.
Furthermore, lead contamination is particularly hazardous to children. Also the Ombudsperson Institution in Kosovo, in its 2005 Annual Report, acknowledged that “the conditions in these camps are appalling and are marked by poverty, malnutrition and a lack of the most basic hygiene and health services”, and that they “are situated dangerously closed to waste dumps belonging to the remnants of the Trepa mining complex.” In addition, the Ombudsperson Institution in Kosovo advised that if “they continue to live in these camps, their health will keep on deteriorating”. The health hazard and the necessity for an urgent relocation of the Roma community were, therefore, clear (OSCE, 2009, p. 5).
Contamination of lead in soil can cause the health effects to human beings. In Mitrovica, lead poisoning of children in the north Mitrovica region of Kosovo is considered as one of the most serious children’ s environmental health crisis in the contemporary Europe (WHO ECEH, 2005). Currently, identification of second source of lead, other than tailing dams is difficult because there is not enough information. According to a report of WHO (WHO ECEH, 2005), secondary smelting activities in this area and IDP camps are suspected to be an important source of lead. Home smelting lead batteries is a potential source of lead as it is an important source of income for many RAE families (Prathumratana, Kim & Woong Kim, 2008, p. 481).
Source: (Prathumratana, Kim & Woong Kim, 2008, p. 481).
References
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