European Journal of Physical and Agricultural Sciences Vol. 3 No. 2, 2015 ISSN 2056-5879 Progressive Academic Publishing, UK Page 54 www.idpublications.org ASSESSMENT OF HEAVY METALS IN SEDIMENTS AND PHRAGMITES AUSTRALIS IN TIRANA RIVER, ALBANIA Enkelejda KUCAJ Department of AgroEnvironment & Ecology, Agricultural University of Tirana, ALBANIA & Uran ABAZI Department of AgroEnvironment & Ecology, Agricultural University of Tirana, Kodër-Kamëz 1029, Tirana ALBANIA ABSTRACT In recent years, rivers and coastal waters were seriously polluted by the pollutants of industrial and urban establishments discharged in them, and heavy metal was the main pollution. The objective of current study was to assess the occurrence of heavy metals in sediments and investigated in Phragmites australis samples from the bed of the Tirana River in Albania. The genus Phragmites has proven ability to mitigate the environmental pollution of its surroundings. Five sampling points were selected to collected sediment samples and common reeds (5 roots and 5 leaves ). The heavy metals contents in sediments were in the following ranges (mg/l) Zn 36.6-53.9 (±6.53), Cu 125.4- 188.9 (±25.93), Ni 137.8- 165.8 (±10.9), Cr 120.8-175.9 (±26.35), Mn 584.9 -1098.6 (±191.96), Fe 28864.2 - 38465.5 (±4316.41). Sediments sample were collected in depth 0-20 cm and were prepared accordin to standart procedures. Heavy metals in sediment and in plants were analized with atomic absorption spectrophotometer technique. The degree of sediment pollution was evaluated by using Bioconcentration Factor (BCF) and Translocation ability (TA). The research proved a strong positive correlation between the concentrations of metals in the sediment and all common reed. Concentrations in belowground organs were usually higher than aboveground organs, and the general decreasing trend of element content was roots > leaves. Keywords: Heavy metals, plant organ, sediment, Tirana River. INTRODUCTION Sediment analyses are more useful to detect pollution problems and sources, especially for contaminants that are rapidly absorbed by particulate matter and consequently would not remain in water samples for long. Knowing the mechanism of accumulation, distribution and metabolism of metals in aquatic macrophytes is of great ecological, scientific and practical importance (Kastori et al., 1997). In aquatic ecosystems, rooted macrophytes such as reeds P. australis are under greater influence from metals coming from sediments than those coming from the water, and therefore bioaccumulation is greater if the sediment contains higher concentration of metals (Zwolsman et al., 1993). As a good bioacumulator of chemical elements, (Duman et al., 2007; Bragato et al., 2009), the common reed has found a wide application in the treatment of municipal and industrial wastewater loaded with metals (Bragato et al., 2009; Lesage et al., 2007). Numerous studies have pointed to a positive correlation between the metals in the sediment and various reed organs (Peverly et al., 1995; Wang et al., 1997; Bonano and Lo Giudice, 2010; Bonano, 2011).