The interactions in seawater of cadmium, copper, and zinc with natural levels of marine humus (fulvic and humic acids) were studied using differential pulse anodic stripping voltammetry (DPASV). Interactions with Cu were also examined by ultraviolet spectrophotometry. The degree of interaction relates to the structure of the particular fulvic or humic acid tested. Marine fulvic and humic acids with different equivalent weights and varying degrees of aromaticity and heteroatom substitution were tested to assess the relative importance of these fundamental structural features in determining the degree of interaction. An index of heteroatom substitution, derived from proton magnetic resonance spectra of these materials, when combined with equivalent weights correlated with the nature and degree of metal interaction. Both marine fulvic and humic acids appreciably interacted with Zn. In contrast, the extent of interaction of fulvic acids with Cu appears to be related to their structure while humic acids appear to interact with Cu regardless of structure. Cadmium interacts only with mature, highly crosslinked humic acids.