6533b821fe1ef96bd127b9c3
RESEARCH PRODUCT
Mercury levels in sediments of central Mediterranean Sea: a 150+ year record from box-cores recovered in the Strait of Sicily.
Massimo AngeloneGiorgio TranchidaRossella Di LeonardoS. MazzolaRodolfo NeriAdriana Bellancasubject
PollutionGeologic SedimentsEnvironmental EngineeringHealth Toxicology and Mutagenesismedia_common.quotation_subjectchemistry.chemical_elementMediterranean seaMediterranean SeaEnvironmental ChemistryTransectGeothermal gradientmedia_commongeographygeography.geographical_feature_categoryStrait of Sicily Box-core sediments Mercury Background level 210Pb chronologyPublic Health Environmental and Occupational HealthGeneral MedicineGeneral ChemistryMercuryPollutionMercury (element)OceanographychemistryVolcanoRadiometric datingGeologyChronologydescription
To evaluate the degree of anthropogenic mercury pollution, Hg contents have been measured for box-core sediments sampled along three nearshore-offshore transects in the Strait of Sicily and well constrained for their mineralogy, bulk geochemistry and TOC%. Hg values are generally low (from 15 to 70 microg kg(-1)); however, depth profiles clearly display upcore rising concentrations (up to 202 microg kg(-1) near the SE Sicily coast) that are attributed to anthropogenic load. Based on (210)Pb chronology, these trends are more dramatic across the last 20-30 years. Geogenic influence is thought to explain some anomalies related to volcanic emission and geothermal activity. Combined effects due to eastward flowing of the Modified Atlantic Water (MAW) and sea bottom morphology drove major anthropogenic accumulation.
| year | journal | country | edition | language |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006-12-01 | Chemosphere |