Abstract
Surface sediments collected from twelve stations in the Boka Kotorska Bay were analyzed for the level and distribution of twenty-six elements and ten oxides, grain sizes, organic matter, and carbonate content. Potentially toxic elements (Al, Fe, Mn, Cr, Zn, Ni, Cu, Pb, As, Co, U) were determined to assess the contamination status and potential environmental risk according to the single-element indices (enrichment factor (EF), geoaccumulation index (Igeo), contamination factor (CF)), and combined index (pollution load index (PLI)). The single-element indices EF and CF revealed that the surface marine sediment was moderately polluted with Pb, Cu, and Cr, while Igeo indicated moderate pollution with Ni > Cr > Zn > Cu > As and moderate to heavy pollution with Pb, as a result of the anthropogenic factors. The method of the combined effect of toxic elements, PLI, showed the highest pollution rate at the shipyard location in the Bay of Tivat. Pearson’s correlation coefficient (r), principal component analysis (PCA), and cluster analysis (CA) were applied to highlight similarities and differences in the distribution of the investigated elements in the Bay, confirming the claim obtained by the pollution indices. The sediment contamination with most heavy metals, such as Cr, Zn, Ni, Cu, Pb, and As, has been identified in the Tivat Bay area.
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Acknowledgements
The authors would like to thank to Prof. Dr. Slavka Stanković (Department of Analytical Chemistry, Faculty of Technology and Metallurgy, University of Belgrade, Serbia) whose scientific contribution and support was fundamental for the development of this work.
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This work was supported by the Ministry of Education, Science and Technological Development of the Republic of Serbia (Contract No. 451-03-9/2021-14/200135, and Contract No. 451-03-68/2020-14/200012).
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MR processed samples and performed experiments related to the determination of the carbonate and organic matter content, mathematically analyzed and interpreted results related to pollution indices and pollution status evaluation, wrote the initial draft, and did the presentation of the manuscript (including substantive translation); NM and MR performed sample pretreatment and instrumental multielement ED-XRF analysis; MV was involved in grain (particle) size analysis and wet sieving method and in interpreting these data, also in commentary and editing; BT contributed with suggestions in the data processing; LP statistically processed and interpreted the experimentally obtained data using multivariate statistical techniques; MM provided the sediment samples; AO supervised the execution of the experiments, contributed to providing the analysis tools, and was involved in methodology, critical review, and commentary. All authors contributed to the article and approved the submitted version.
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Radomirović, M., Mijatović, N., Vasić, M. et al. The characterization and pollution status of the surface sediment in the Boka Kotorska Bay, Montenegro. Environ Sci Pollut Res 28, 53629–53652 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11356-021-14382-8
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11356-021-14382-8