Sediment pore water concentrations of Fe(2+), Mn(2+), NH4(+), and CH4 were analyzed from both diver-collected cores and an in situ equilibration device (peeper) in Lake Erie's central basin. Sediment oxygen demand (SOD) was measured at the same station with a hemispheric chamber (including DO probe and recorder) subtending a known area of sediments. The average SOD was 9.4 millimeters/sqm/day. From pore water gradients within the near-surface zone, the chemical flux across the interface was calculated indirectly using Fick's first law modified for sediments. These calculations, using core and peeper gradients, always showed sediment loss to overlying waters, and variations between the two techniques differed by less than an order of magnitude for Fe(+2) and CH4. (Copyright (c) Dr W. Junk Publishers, The Hague. Printed in the Netherlands.)