engleski

Mercury and radionuclides in sediments of the Kaštela bay (Croatia)- Evaluation of the sediment pollution history

Mercury and radionuclides (natural U and its decay series products and artificial 137Cs) were measured in sediments of the Kaštela bay (Eastern Adriatic Coast) in the vicinity of the former chloralkali plant. From the depth distributions of radionuclides and mercury it was revealed that sediments in front of the factory represent a mixture of natural sediment and the coal ash originating from the coal used in the factory power plant. On the basis of these data the hypothesis that the coal ash from the factory power plant was dumped into the sea was confirmed and it was estimated (from 137Cs depth profiles) that this dumping happened between 1986 and 1991. Data on artificial radionuclide 137Cs confirmed to be very useful for the evaluation of the sediment pollution history even in such very disturbed sediments. A future monitoring of the pollution of the Kaštela bay by mercury and radionuclides was suggested, which should include the whole area of the bay and both abiotic (water, sediment) and biotic (marine organisms) compartments.

mercury; radionuclides; Kaštela bay; pollution history

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