Geochemical and Radiometric Assessment of Romanian Black Sea Shelf Waters and Sediments: Implications for Anthropogenic Influence

The Northwestern Black Sea shelf, strongly influenced by Danube discharge and coastal activities, provides an effective setting for separating lithogenic controls from localized anthropogenic inputs. We applied a multi-proxy geochemical–radiometric approach to Romanian shelf waters and surface sediments. A CTD–Rosette was used to quantify nutrients, chlorophyll-a, TOC, and TN. Dissolved metals and PAHs were measured in seawater, while surface sediments were analyzed for CaCO3, TOC, trace metals, and γ-emitting radionuclides. Multivariate statistics (PCA/FA) were used to resolve the dominant environmental controls. Summer stratification was characterized by the bottom-layer maxima of PO43−, SiO44−, and NH4+ and a pronounced subsurface chlorophyll-a maximum at 12–16 m. Surface-water Σ16PAH ranged from 134 to 347 ng L−1 and was dominated by low-molecular-weight compounds, with episodic nearshore enrichment in high-molecular-weight species. In sediments, CaCO3 ranged from 7.6 to 29.9% and TOC from 0.11 to 0.96%. Trace metals were generally low. Pb and Hg peaked at nearshore station S23, whereas mean Ni (38.88 ppm) slightly exceeded the 35 ppm guideline, consistent with natural Fe/Mn-oxide association. PCA/FA identified a terrigenous axis (Fe-Al-Ti-V-Ni-Cr), a carbonate axis (CaCO3; Sr where available), and an anthropogenic factor (Pb, Hg, HMW-PAHs). γ-spectrometry provided a compatible radiometric baseline that supports the multi-proxy interpretation.