Mercury in sediment cores from the southern Gulf of Mexico: Preindustrial levels and temporal enrichment trends

Abstract Spatial and temporal variability of mercury concentrations in sediments was evaluated in 210Pb-dated sediment cores from offshore and intertidal areas in the southern Gulf of Mexico. In offshore cores, mercury concentrations were comparable (11.2–69.2 ng g−1), and intermediate between concentrations in intertidal cores from the eastern (6.0–34.4 ng g−1) and the western (34.9–137.7 ng g−1) inlets of Terminos Lagoon. The enrichment factor (EF) indicated minimal contamination (EF