Impact of Tourism on Trace Metal Concentrations (Pb, Cr, Ni, Cu and Zn) in Sediments of Telašćica Bay (East Adriatic – Croatia)

Trace metal concentrations (Pb, Cr, Ni, Cu and Zn), the distribution of natural and artificial 137Cs radionuclide and sedimetological characteristics (grain-size analyses) in recent sediments at selected stations of Telašćica Bay (Nature Park at Dugi Otok, East Adriatic, Croatia), were evaluated. It was established that trace metal concentrations were within the range of unpolluted Adriatic sediments. The highest Cu, Zn and Pb concentrations were found along navigational routes and areas used for anchoring boats. Gamma-spectrometric measurements of naturally occurring radionuclides spatial activity showed that terrigenous material input is highest in the NW part of the Bay and lowest in its central part. Grain-size analysis classifies the Telašćica Bay sediment mostly as poorly sorted sandy silt. Since trace metal concentrations in the sediments of Telašćica Bay were not measured previously, results will contribute to the sustainable development of the Nature Park (calculation of the boat environmental capacity, construction of new objects, berths and other interventions in the bay ecosystem)