HEAVY-METALS AND NUTRIENTS IN COASTAL, SURFACE SEAWATERS (GULF-OF-TRIESTE, NORTHERN ADRIATIC-SEA) - AN ENVIRONMENTAL-STUDY BY FACTOR-ANALYSIS

Trace metals and nutrients were monitored voltammetrically and spectro photometrically during a one-year period (1992/93) in the filtered fra ction of coastal surface seawaters sampled with a monthly frequency at 6 different sites in the Gulf of Trieste (Northern Adriatic Sea), to evaluate the degree of pollution in an area receiving industrial, agri cultural and urban wastes. The sites devoted to hatcheries of edible m ussels are of particular interest. A multivariate statistical analysis of the collected concentration data by the principal component method allows to identify the sources and typology of pollution, and to disc riminate between the quality of waters at the different sampling sites . The coastal waters in the Gulf of Trieste seem to be comparable to, or better than, waters of analogous areas in the Mediterranean Sea.