title: Seasonal distribution of metals in vertical and horizontal profiles of sheltered and exposed beaches on Polish coast.
abstract: The distribution of alkali and heavy metals in coastal sediments of three Polish beaches was assessed. In all locations there are sandy beaches of different characteristics according to the anthropogenic impact and degree of sheltering. Core sediments collected in Czołpino and Ustka were characterized by the highest concentration of Cd, Ag, Ba, and Al, Cu, Cr, Bi, Na, respectively. Among the alkaline metals core sediments were the most abundant with Ca, Bi, Mg and Na, presenting almost stable decreasing order in all beaches. The majority of dredge material collected can be classified as light or trace contaminated by Cr, Cu, Zn, Cd and Hg. An abundance of mineralogical components in core sediments in Ustka increases in Summer and Autumn, while in Puck is stable throughout the year. The content of studied metals in core sediments collected in three Polish beaches changes both in the vertical and horizontal profiles of the beach.
authors.affiliation: Pomeranian University in Słupsk, Institute of Biology and Environmental Protection, Department of Environmental Chemistry, Arciszewskiego 22B, 76-200 Słupsk, Poland.
authors.forename: Katarzyna
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Bigus
authors.affiliation: Pomeranian University in Słupsk, Institute of Biology and Environmental Protection, Department of Environmental Chemistry, Arciszewskiego 22B, 76-200 Słupsk, Poland. Electronic address: astel@apsl.edu.pl.
authors.forename: Aleksander
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Astel
authors.affiliation: Department of Analytical Chemistry, Faculty of Chemistry, Adam Mickiewicz University, Umultowska 89, 61-614 Poznań, Poland.
authors.forename: Przemysław
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Niedzielski
mesh_terms: D001493:Bathing Beaches / Q000592:standards; D004784:Environmental Monitoring / Q000379:methods*; D019015:Geologic Sediments / Q000737:chemistry*; D019216:Metals, Heavy / Q000032:analysis*; D011044:Poland; D012621:Seasons; D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical / Q000032:analysis*
chemical_list: D019216:Metals, Heavy; D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical
keywords: Alkali metals; Baltic Sea; Coastal sediments; Geochemistry; Heavy metals; Profiles of the beach