Composition of bottom sediments and interstitial waters from the Gdansk Bay

Contents of mercury and zinc in reduced sediments and interstitial waters of the Gdansk Bay in the Baltic Sea were investigated. It was found that sediments contain 0.7 ppm Hg, of which 0.008 ppm•(0.4% of total) is dissolved in interstitial water, and 91 ppm Zn, of which 0.15 ppm (0.45% of total) is dissolved in interstitial water. Differences in contents in different layers (0-5 and 25-30 cm) can be attributed to anthropogenic influence. Aderage concentration of mercury in the upper sediment layer is 27% higher and one of zinc is 40% higher than those found in the lower sediment layer. In addition, distribution of zinc in grain size fractions of the sediments was investigated, and some data on cadmium content were obtained.