@ARTICLE{Demaku_Skender_Potentially_Early,
 author={Demaku, Skender and Kastrati, Tringa},
 journal={Journal of Water and Land Development},
 pages={12-20},
 howpublished={online},
 year={Early Access},
 publisher={Polish Academy of Sciences; Institute of Technology and Life Sciences - National Research Institute},
 abstract={This research evaluates the quality of water and surface sediment in the Bistrica River, addressing the growing environmental challenges in Kosovo caused by extensive human activities. Contamination of these resources poses significant threats to aquatic ecosystems and human health. To assess this, we analysed the levels of potentially toxic elements (PTEs) in the samples using inductively coupled plasma optical emission spectrometry (ICP-OES). The elements examined included Fe, Pb, Ni, Mn, Cu, Zn, Al, and Co. Samples were collected from various sites along the Bistrica River during both high-flow and low-flow seasons in October 2023. The degree of PTE contamination was assessed using several pollution indices (contamination factor (CF), contamination degree (CD), pollution load index (PLI), enrichment factor (EF), geoaccumulation index (Igeo) and ecological risk index (ERI)), indicating that both water and surface sediment exhibited moderate to high levels of contamination. Results revealed that pollution in water samples exceeded the guidelines set by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and World Health Organization (WHO). Additionally, statistical analysis and contamination clusters, primarily originating from agricultural fields and grazing areas within the catchment. To reduce these risks and safeguard both the aquatic ecosystem and human health, it is crucial to maintain regular monitoring and enforce effective management strategies.},
 title={Potentially toxic elements contamination and ecological risk assessment in water and surface sediments of Bistrica River},
 type={Article},
 URL={http://journals.pan.pl/Content/133825/2025-01-JWLD-02.pdf},
 doi={10.24425/jwld.2024.151812},
 keywords={Bistrica River, ecological risk, heavy metals, surface sediment, water},
}