Distribution of rare earth elements in marine sediments from the Strait of Sicily (western Mediterranean Sea): Evidence of phosphogypsum waste contamination

► REE + Y contents are higher in onshore than offshore sediments. ► Anomaly in sediments near southwestern Sicilian coast (site 134): high REE + Y. ► REE + Y patterns show Middle REE enrichments (convexity around Sm-Gd-Eu elements). ► Smn/Lan, measure of MREE enrichments, is correlated with high Th concentrations. ► Anomalies are associated with the input of phosphogypsum-contaminated effluents.