Total mercury in marine sediments near a sewage outfall. Relation with organic matter.

Abstract
Total mercury content of sediments affected by a sewage outfall was determined. The results as obtained were correlated with other parameters (humic substances, protein content, % silt‐clay); a marked positive correlation was found to exist between total mercury and humic substance contents of these sediments. Mercury distribution seems to be influenced not only by certain physical processes (ebb and flow, adsorption, etc.) but also by biological and chemical ones.