Sediments can be made toxic in areas where there is considerable deposition of organic matter. This is assessed by measuring TOC.

The pie graph shows the proportion of the NJ/NY Harbor Estuary that is good (green), fair (yellow), poor (red) or missing data (blue) for sediment total organic carbon (TOC). The small symbols on the map show the rating at a particular sampling location. To see the measurements made at one of these locations, click on its symbol on the map.