Recent benthic foraminiferal assemblages and chemical pollution in box-core sediments from the SE Sicilian coast, Central Mediterranean

In this study we compare the distribution and morphology of benthic foraminifera with pollutant (mercury and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons - PAHs) concentrations in box-core sediments, in order to establish a historical record of the biological response to pollution. Sediments have been collected along a west-east transect near the Sicil- ian coast, offshore of the Augusta urban and industrial area, during two oceanographic cruises onboard the oceanographic ship "URANIA" in summer 2003 and 2004. Pol- lutant inputs in this area are mainly derived from industrial and harbour activities, particularly from chloro-alkali plants active since the 1960s. The sediments display SiO 2 contents generally greater than 50% and carbonate contents ranging between 10 and 67% (mean value 21%). TOC concentration varies from 0.15 to 0.99%, with increasing values (a) from offshore towards nearshore, and (b) with decreasing core depth. TOC maxima in the lower portions of the offshore cores correlate to C/N values higher than 10, thus indicating significant inputs of land-derived organic matter