This research focuses on determination of the mineralogical composition, geochemical characteristics and evaluation of pollution status of the Makirina Bay sediments. Calculated enrichment factor (EF) values show no enrichment (< 1) for Cd, Ni, and Zn, minor enrichment (< 3) for As, Cu, and Pb, and minor to moderate enrichment for Mo. The results of the sequential leaching procedure for the aforementioned potentially toxic elements (PTE) indicates that the mobility and bioavailability characteristics of the PTE studied declined in the following order: Mo > Cd > Pb > Ni > Zn > Cu > As. Principal component analysis (PCA) and correlation analysis confirmed the PTE distribution depends mainly on the geogenic mineral components and anthropogenic activities in the areas surrounding the bay. Calculated transfer factor (TF) values from sediment to seagrass Cymodocea nodosa (C. nodosa) were < 1, showing that despite the results of the sequential extraction procedure, PTE transfer from sediment to roots was not effective.

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Klju~ne besede: peloid, zaliv Makirina, potencialno toksi~ni elementi (PTE), bento{ka alga Codium bursa, faktor prenosa (TF) Key words: peloid, Makirina bay, potentially toxic elements (PTE), benthic algae Codium bursa, transfer factor (TF) Izvle~ekRecentne morske sedimente iz zaliva Makirina lahko glede na njihove organolepti~ne lastnosti obravnavamo kot zdravilno blato ali peloid, ki ga nekateri doma~ini in turisti že uporabljajo v obliki blatnih oblog. Uporaba peloidov v balneoterapiji je namenjena predvsem zdravljenju mi{i~nih, kostnih in kožnih obolenj ter spro{~anju in velnesu. Številne nedavne raziskave peloidov so pokazale, da so eni izmed glavnih dejavnikov, ki pogojujejo (ne)uporabo peloida v balneoterapevtske namene, zrnavost, mineralo{ka sestava, kationska izmenjevalna kapaciteta (KIK), elementna in mikrobiolo{ka sestava izvornega »geolo{kega materiala«. Iz rezultatov predhodnih raziskav je razvidno, da peloid iz zaliva Makirina gradi zelo slabo sortiran pe{~en mulj z visoko kationsko izmenjevalno kapaciteto (63,82 meq/100g). V mineralni sestavi peloida prevladujeta dolomit in kremen, sledijo ilit/muskovit, aragonit, kalcit, halit in pirit. Povpre~ne koncentracije potencialno toksi~nih elementov (PTE) v peloidu iz zaliva Makirina, dolo~enih v tokratni raziskavi zna{ajo: As (17,6 mg/kg), Cr (92,09 mg/kg), Cu (44,5 mg/kg), Mo (31,8 mg/kg), Pb (28,9 mg/kg) in Zn (69,2 mg/kg) in so primerljive z rezultati preteklih {tudij. Koncentracije PTE v bento{ki algi Codium bursi (C. bursa) so slede~e: As (8,8 mg/kg), Cr (15,7 mg/kg), Cu (5,6 mg/kg), Mo (0,7 mg/kg), Pb (3,6 mg/kg) in Zn (16,3 mg/kg). Izra~unani faktorji prenosa (TF) za PTE iz povr{inskega peloida (0-5 cm) v bento{ko algo C. burso so manj{i od 1, kar pomeni, da se PTE iz peloida ne prena{ajo oziroma se v C. bursi ne akumulirajo. Rezultati prisotnosti koliformnih bakterij in E. coli se ujemajo s preteklimi rezultati, ki so pokazali, da jih v peloidu ni, kar nakazuje, da peloid ni fekalno kontaminiran. Peloid iz zaliva Makirina ima (z izjemo povi{anih koncentracij Cr in Mo) primerljive lastnosti s peloidi, ki se trenutno že uspe{no uporabljajo v razli~nih spa-centrih po svetu, vendar je treba pred potencialno uporabo opraviti dodatne raziskave, kot je na primer dolo~itev mobilnosti Cr in Mo. AbstractRecent marine sediments from Makirina bay are according to their organoleptic properties, treated as peloid or healing mud, already frequently used by local people and tourists as pomades. The application of peloids in balneotherapy is mainly intended for therapeutic treatment generally related to muscle-bone skin pathologies and purposes of wellness and relaxation. Recent studies point out that one of the main factors determining the final characteristics of peloids are grain size distribution, mineralogy, cation exchange capacity (CEC), elemental and microbiological composition of initial »geological material«. As reported by previous studies Makirina Bay peloid is represented mostly by sandy silt with relatively high CEC value (63.82 meq/100g). Peloid m...

Abstract. The aim of the present study was to determine the concentrations of several potentially toxic elements (PTE) in the recent marine sediment of Makirina bay (central Adriatic), which could according to its organoleptic properties be used as a virgin material for medical treatment, wellness and relax purposes. Sediment samples were collected in June and July 2010 from six different sites in the central part of the bay. The range of measured elemental concentrations in analysed surficial sediment were: As (11-15,8 ppm), Cr (61,6 -109,5 ppm), Cu (19,4-54,2 ppm), Pb (16,6 ppm) and Zn (37-52 ppm). Sediment PTE pollution assessment was performed using contamination factor (CF), contamination degree (C deg ) and pollution load index (PLI). The calculated environmental index values show a low to moderate contamination status of sediment. Future geochemical investigation on these sediments are necessary prior actual use in various therapeutic treatment.

The presence of potentially toxic elements (PTE) was determined in different tissues of five selected marine organisms. The As, Cd, Cu, Mn, Mo, Ni, Pb and Zn concentrations were measured in the seagrass Cymodocea nodosa, the green alga Cladophora echinus, the red alga Gelidiella lubrica, the marine topshell Phorcus turbinatus and the littoral crab Carcinus aestuarii, as well as in seawater from Makirina Bay. The levels of As, Cd, Cu, Mn and Zn in the biota were found to exceed those in previously analysed sediments, indicating the bioaccumulation of these PTE. The biota-sediment accumulation factor (BSAF) and concentration factor (CF) varied among different organisms. As regards the five selected species, C. nodosa, C. echinus and G. lubrica proved to be the strongest accumulators of Mn, while P. turbinatus and C. aestuarii showed a high capacity to accumulate As, Cd, Cu and Zn. These species can be considered as good ecological indicators in the assessment of PTE pollution in marine littoral environments.