Površinski morski sediment uzorkovan u decembru 2019. godine na dvanaest lokacija u Bokokotorskom zalivu, analiziran je primenom različitih instrumentalnih metoda u cilju postizanja hemijske, teksturalne i radiološke karakterizacije sedimenta. Određen je sadržaj deset oksida i dvadeset šest elemenata (Al2O3, CaO, Fe2O3, K2O, MgO, MnO, Na2O, P2O5, SiO2, TiO2, i As, Ba, Br, Cl, Co, Cr, Cs, Cu, Ga, La, Mo, Nb, Ni, Pb, Rb, S, Sb, Se, Sn, Sr, Th, U, V, Y, Zn, Zr), dodatnih teških metala (Cd, Hg), radionuklida (40K, 226Ra, 232Th, 238U, 137Cs) i njihova prostorna raspodela u zalivu. Pre instrumentalnih analiza, određene su fizičko-hemijske katakteristike sedimenta, poput granulometrijskog sastava, sadržaja organske materije i karbonata. U okviru doktorske disertacije, jedan deo istraživanja odnosio se na procenu ekološkog i radiološkog rizika za period 2019. godine. Za procenu ekološkog statusa sedimenta primenjeni su individualni indeksi, poput faktora obogaćenja (EF), geoakumulacionog indeksa (Igeo), faktora kontaminacije (Cf), zatim i kompleksni indeks, kao što je indeks opterećenja zagađenjem (PLI); koji su se zasnivali na vrednostima potencijalno toksičnih elemenata (Al, Fe, Mn, Cr, Zn, Ni, Cu, Pb, As, Co, U). Primenom individualnih indeksa zagađenja (EF, Cf, Igeo), okriveno je umereno i umereno-do-jako zagađenje u Tivatskom zalivu za većinu teških metala (Ni, Cr, Zn, Cu, As i Pb), što je ukazalo na očigledan uticaj antropogenih aktivnosti koji je doprineo kontaminaciji sedimenta. Primenom PLI, utvrđen je ukupan obim opterećenja teških metala za svaku lokaciju, čime je ukazano na visok nivo zagađenja na lokaciji Bijela brodogradilište. Metode multivarijacione statističke analize istakle su sličnosti odnosno razlike u distribuciji pojedinih ispitivanih elemenata u skladu sa njihovm poreklom. Da bi se obezbedila radiološka procena rizika morskih sedimenata u 2019. godini, najpre je izvršena analiza sadržaja prirodnih radionuklida (40K, 226Ra, 232Th, 238U) i tehnogenog cezijuma (137Cs). Primenjeno je nekoliko dobro utvrđenih parametara (doza zračenja i indeksa), i to spoljašnjih hazard indeksa: ekvivalent aktivnosti radijuma (Raeq), ukupna apsorbovana doza (D), eksterni hazard indeks (Hex), rizik od nastanka kancera tokom života (ELCR); i unutrašnjih hazard indeksa: interni hazard indeks (Hin), godišnja efektivna doza (AEDE), godišnji ekvivalent gonadne doze (AGDE), i indeks iskorišćenja aktivnosti (AUI). Rezultati dobijenih indeksa ukazuju na to da je rizik usled gama zračenja u ispitivanom području u okviru prihvatljivog nivoa. Mape prostorne raspodele radionuklida upućivale su na izraženiju primordijalnu radioaktivnost u unutrašnjem delu zaliva. Korelaciona i klasterska analiza otkrile su snažnu povezanost između primordijalnih radionuklida i većine makroelemenata i napravile jasnu razliku između 226Ra, 232Th, 238U i 137Cs. Drugi deo ovog istraživanja predstavljao je sveobuhvatnu procenu statusa kvaliteta sedimenta, odnosno procenu potencijalne kontaminacije sedimenta. Evaluacija sedimenta izvršena je uporednom analizom vrednosti razmatranih pokazatelja ekološkog rizika i indeksa zagađenja, praćenih na četrdeset lokacija u Bokokotorskom zalivu u različitim sezonama u periodu od 2005. do 2019. godine. U cilju procene potencijalnog ekološkog rizika, ekotoksičnosti sedimenta, identifikacije nivoa toksičnosti i ukupnog opterećenja kontaminacije razmatranih teških metala (As, Cd, Cr, Cu, Hg, Mn, Ni, Pb, Zn, Fe), primenjeni su indeksi poput indeksa opterećenja zagađenjem (PLI), indeksa potencijalnog ekološkog rizika (RI), prosečnog ERM kvocijenta (MERMQ), indeksa toksičnog rizika (TRI) i indeksa jačine kontaminacije (CSI). Nekoliko žarišta u zalivu vizuelno su predstavljena prostornom distribucijom ovih indeksa zagađenja, ukazujući da je sediment u Tivatskom zalivu bio najzagađeniji u okviru ispitivanog područja. Utvrđen je prosečni doprinos pojedinih metala u ukupnom riziku, predstavljen sledećim redosledom: Cd > Hg > As > Pb > Ni > Cu > Cr > Zn. S obzirom na najveći doprinos ukupnom riziku, prisustvo Cd predstavlja prioritet usled toksičnosti koji izaziva veliku zabrinutost u okviru ekosistema zaliva. Na osnovu rezultata, postoji opadajući trend vrednosti sadržaja Hg zabeležen u periodu od 2005. do 2019. godine. Na osnovu rezultata dobijenih indeksima zagađenja ukazano je na Tivatski zaliv kao najzagađeniji deo ispitivanog područja, kako za 2019. godinu, tako i za istraživani period od 2005. do 2019., što je potvrđeno i metodama multivarijacione analize. Multivarijacione statističke metode podržale su primenu smanjenog broja kompleksnih indeksa, s obzirom da je većina njih upućivala na relativno slične zaključke u proceni rizika. Marine surface sediment sampled in December 2019 at twelve locations in the Boka Kotorska Bay was analyzed using different instrumental methods to achieve chemical, textural and radiological characterization of sediment. The content was determined for ten oxides and twenty-six elements (Al2O3, CaO, Fe2O3, K2O, MgO, MnO, Na2O, P2O5, SiO2, TiO2, As, Ba, Br, Cl, Co, Cr, Cs, Cu, Ga, La, Mo, Nb, Ni, Pb, Rb, S, Sb, Se, Sn, Sr, Th, U, V, Y, Zn, Zr), heavy metals (Cd, Hg), radionuclides (40K, 226Ra, 232Th, 238U, 137Cs) was determined, as well as their spatial distribution in the Bay. Before instrumental analysis, physico-chemical characteristics of the sediment were determined, such as granulometric composition, organic matter content and carbonate content. Within the doctoral dissertation, one part of the research referred to the assessment of environmental and radiological risk for the period 2019. Individual indices, such as enrichment factor (EF), geoaccumulation index (Igeo), contamination factor (Cf); and complex index, such as pollution load index (PLI), were applied to assess the ecological status of the sediment, which were based on the values of potentially toxic elements (Al, Fe, Mn, Cr, Zn, Ni, Cu, Pb, As, Co, U). Moderate and moderate-to-strong pollution has been identified in the Tivat Bay for most heavy metals (Ni, Cr, Zn, Cu, As and Pb) using the individual pollution indices EF, Cf and Igeo, which indicated the obvious impact of anthropogenic activities that contributed to sediment contamination. Combining the number of analyzed heavy metals, PLI determined the total heavy metal load for each site, indicating a high level of pollution at the site Bijela shipyard. The multivariate statistical analysis highlighted the similarities and differences in the distribution of individual examined elements in the Bay by their origin. To provide a radiological risk assessment of marine sediments in 2019, the sediment has been first analyzed for the content of natural, primordial radionuclides (40K, 226Ra, 232Th, 238U) and technogenic cesium (137Cs). Several well-established parameters (radiation doses and indices) were applied, such as, external hazard indices: radium equivalent activities (Raeq), absorbed dose rate (D), external hazard index (Hex), excess lifetime cancer risk (ELCR); and internal hazard indices: internal hazard index (Hin), annual effective dose rate (AEDE), annual gonadal dose equivalent (AGDE), activity utilization index (AUI). The results of the obtained indices suggest that the risk due to gamma radiation in the investigated area is within an acceptable level. Spatial distribution maps of radionuclides indicated that primordial radioactivity was more concentrated in the inner part of the Bay. Correlation and cluster analysis revealed a strong association between primordial radionuclides and most macroelements and a clear difference between 226Ra, 232Th, 238U and 137Cs. The second part of this research was a comprehensive assessment of the sediment quality status, that is, an assessment of potential sediment contamination. The sediment evaluation was performed by a comparative analysis of the values of the considered environmental risk indicators and pollution indices, monitored at forty locations in the Boka Kotorska Bay in different seasons in the period from 2005 to 2019. To assess the potential environmental risk, sediment ecotoxicity, identification of toxicity levels and total contamination load of the considered heavy metals (As, Cd, Cr, Cu, Hg, Mn, Ni, Pb, Zn, Fe), indices such as Pollution Load Index (PLI), Potential Ecological Risk Index (RI), Mean ERM Quotient (MERMQ), Toxic Risk Index (TRI), and Pollution Contamination Index (CSI) were applied. Several hotspots in the Bay were visually represented by the spatial distribution of these pollution indices, indicating that the sediment in Tivat Bay was the most polluted within the study area. The average contribution of individual metals in the total risk was determined, presented in the following order: Cd > Hg > As > Pb > Ni > Cu > Cr > Zn. Considering the highest contribution to the overall risk, the presence of Cd is a priority due to the toxicity that causes great concern within the ecosystem of the Bay. Based on the results, there is a declining trend of Hg content observed in the period from 2005 to 2019. Based on the results obtained by pollution indices, the bay of Tivat was the most polluted part of the investigated area, both in 2019 and in the period from 2005 to 2019, which was confirmed by the methods of multivariate analysis. Multivariate statistical methods supported the application of a reduced number of complex indices, as most of them pointed to relatively similar conclusions in the risk assessment.