Mercury levels in sediments of central Mediterranean Sea: A 150+ year record from box-cores recovered in the Strait of Sicily

To evaluate the degree of anthropogenic mercury pollution, Hg contents have been measured for box-core sediments sampled alongthree nearshore–offshore transects in the Strait of Sicily and well constrained for their mineralogy, bulk geochemistry and TOC%. Hgvalues are generally low (from 15 to 70 lg kg 1); however, depth profiles clearly display upcore rising concentrations (up to 202 lg kg 1near the SE Sicily coast) that are attributed to anthropogenic load. Based on 210Pb chronology, these trends are more dramatic across thelast 20–30 years. Geogenic influence is thought to explain some anomalies related to volcanic emission and geothermal activity. Combinedeffects due to eastward flowing of the Modified Atlantic Water (MAW) and sea bottom morphology drove major anthropogenicaccumulation.