Monitoring of trace metals in coastal sediments from sites around Sardinia, Western Mediterranean

In this study the authors explore, for the first time, monitoring data on trace metals (Al, As, Cd, Cr, Cu, Fe, Hg, Pb, and Zn) collected from coastal superficial sediments of Sardinia (Italy). Eight sampling sites representative of areas at different levels of exposure to contaminants were selected. Sediments were collected twice a year, in April and September, from 2001 to 2006. The results provided a dataset of trace metal concentrations in this region of the Western Mediterranean based on a prolonged period.