title: Applying of factor analyses for determination of trace elements distribution in water from Vardar and its tributaries, Macedonia/Greece.
abstract: A systematic study was carried out to investigate the distribution of fifty-six elements in the water samples from river Vardar (Republic of Macedonia and Greece) and its major tributaries. The samples were collected from 27 sampling sites. Analyses were performed by mass spectrometry with inductively coupled plasma (ICP-MS) and atomic emission spectrometry with inductively coupled plasma (ICP-AES). Cluster and R mode factor analysis (FA) was used to identify and characterise element associations and four associations of elements were determined by the method of multivariate statistics. Three factors represent the associations of elements that occur in the river water naturally while Factor 3 represents an anthropogenic association of the elements (Cd, Ga, In, Pb, Re, Tl, Cu, and Zn) introduced in the river waters from the waste waters from the mining and metallurgical activities in the country.
authors.affiliation: RŽ Tehnička Kontrola, 16ta Makedonska Brigada 18, 1000 Skopje, Macedonia.
authors.forename: Stanko Ilić
authors.initials: SI
authors.lastname: Popov
authors.affiliation: Institute of Chemistry, Faculty of Science, Saints Cyril and Methodius University, P.O. Box 162, 1000 Skopje, Macedonia.
authors.forename: Trajče
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Stafilov
authors.affiliation: Geological Survey of Slovenia, Dimčeva Ulica 14, 1000 Ljubljana, Slovenia.
authors.forename: Robert
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Sajn
authors.affiliation: INCDO-INOE 2000, Research Institute for Analytical Instrumentation (ICIA), 67 Donath, 400293 Cluj-Napoca, Romania.
authors.forename: Claudiu
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Tănăselia
authors.affiliation: RŽ Tehnička Kontrola, 16ta Makedonska Brigada 18, 1000 Skopje, Macedonia.
authors.forename: Katerina
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Bačeva
mesh_terms: D004784:Environmental Monitoring / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D005163:Factor Analysis, Statistical; D006115:Greece; D013058:Mass Spectrometry; D019216:Metals, Heavy / Q000032:analysis*; D018843:Republic of North Macedonia; D045483:Rivers / Q000737:chemistry*; D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical / Q000032:analysis*
chemical_list: D019216:Metals, Heavy; D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical