Abstract
Coastal marine sediments receive intensive stress from urbanization and industrialization, which is manifested by increased contents of heavy metals and organic pollutants. Saronikos Gulf and the small embayment of Elefsis, stretch along the coast of the greater Athens and Pireaus port, the most urbanized and industrialized areas in Greece. Here we present the data of a 20-year geochemical record on grain-size, organic carbon, and major and trace elements contents of the Saronikos Gulf sediments. A total of 216 sediment samples were collected within the period of 1999–2018 from the four sub-sectors of the gulf, namely, the Elefsis Bay, the Inner, Outer, and Western (Megara and Epidavros basin) Saronikos Gulf. Additionally, at least one core was obtained from each sub-sector. Sediments deposited at pre-industrial periods were recognized by 14C and 210Pb dating, and served for establishing regionalized background levels of metals. Factor analysis was conducted to reveal the inter-parametric relationships, thus their common sources, as well as transport and deposition pathways. Then, Enrichment Factors and the multi-elemental Modified Pollution Index (MPI) were calculated to assess the current environmental status of the sediments. Data of sampling sites with at least a five-year record, were assessed for temporal trends, to explore whether sustained, increasing or decreasing trends of the MPI are observed. The dataset and analyses presented here support the research article entitled Geochemistry of major and trace elements in surface sediments of the Saronikos Gulf (Greece): assessment of contamination between 1999 and 2018 [1].
Highlights
Dataset on the major and trace elements contents and contamination in the sediments of Saronikos Gulf and Elefsis Bay, Greece
Several samples were obtained over the same network of stations serving the diachronic monitoring of the Saronikos Gulf with respect to major and trace elements contents
The finer fraction was analyzed with a Micromeritics Sedigraph 5100E, whereas samples collected after March 2017 with a Micromeritics III PLUS, in order to separate silt and clay fractions
Summary
Surface sediments (0e1 cm) were collected from 68 sampling sites in the Saronikos Gulf and its subbasins, namely, the Elefsis Bay, the Western (or Megara and Epidavros basin), the Inner and Outer Saronikos Gulf (Fig. 1a). Several samples were obtained over the same network of stations serving the diachronic monitoring of the Saronikos Gulf with respect to major and trace elements contents. These samples were used to assess temporal trends of contaminants. The latter dataset was studied in more detail to gain insight of the current environmental status of the study area.
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