Anthropogenic metal contamination and sapropel imprints in deep Mediterranean sediments

► Metal pollution was recorded in deep Mediterranean sediments. ► Atmospheric imprint was characterized with radioactive and stable Pb isotopes. ► 210Pb data suggests metal pollution from atmospheric deposition. ► Pollutant Pb input to the western basin is 20-25% of coastal atmospheric inventories. ► Trace element redistribution is associated with sapropel and turbidite events.