Distribution of organic matter and metals in the south-eastern Baltic Sea (Lithuanian zone)

Processes supplying organic matter and hazardous substances to seawater are especially intensive in coastal areas and semi-enclosed seas. An understanding of the characteristics, nature of the organic matter, its cycling, distribution of pollutants and the major controlling factors in the coastal ecosystems can provide interesting insights into the occurrence of natural and anthropogenic processes in the lagoon and its drainage basin. The main task of this work was to assess the distribution pattern of organic matter and metals and to evaluate an extent of contamination of the south-eastern Baltic Sea. In this work, the stable carbon and nitrogen isotopes ratios were used in order to evaluate sources and composition of organic matter as well as the seasonal and temporal variability of organic matter. The distribution pattern of metals (Pb, Cu, Cd, Ni, Cr, Zn) in sediments of the SE Baltic Sea and the most polluted sites were evaluated by applying different geochemical indices (EF, Igeo, CF, Cd, Eir, RI). During this study, the metal (Cd, Cu, Pb and Zn) concentrations in biota tissue were assessed and the accumulation capacity of each element by mussels Macoma balthica and Dreissena polymorpha was evaluated