1. Laboratoire de structure et fonction des biomembranes, Route Léon Lachamp, 13288 Marseille Cédex 9, France;2. Centre d''océanologie de Marseille, Faculté des Sciences de Luminy, Route Léon Lachamp, 13288 Marseille Cédex 9, France
Abstract:
Coastal Mediterranean sediments highly polluted by refinery effluents have been studied for their hydrocarbon content and bacterial activity. The study has taken into account both the distance from the refinery and depth of sampling. Very high hydrocarbon concentrations have been found (1–250 g/kg dry sediment). Micro-organisms in the sediments have a high bacterial activity and a good correlation exists between hydrocarbon concentrations and bacteria able to use these substrates as a carbon and energy source.