“…Moreover, some of these variables (Fe, Mn, Pb, Co, and Zn) also had moderate to high positive loadings in PC2, suggesting the partial dissolution and mobility of these elements in the sedimentary water column due to a marked increase of OM content in surficial sediments (Fig. 3) which acts as an electron donor, thus, reducing Fe or Mn oxyhydroxides (Moushmi et al, 2022). This is very well supported by the strong loadings of TW and OM (0.98 and 0.72, respectively) in PC2.…”