Formation of methylmercury in a terrestrial environment

Tin and Mercury

“…Under neutral and slightly alkaline conditions, clay minerals and iron oxides become more effective sorbents and mercury-hydroxide complexes are the dominant sorbed species [59]. The conversion of inorganic mercury to organic forms and vice versa appears to occur both through the action of organisms (particularly sulfate-reducing bacteria) and also as an inorganic process but is still not fully understood (for example [66][67][68][69][70]). It is an important process since organic forms of mercury may persist for longer in the aquatic and terrestrial environment than elemental Hg, which is lost by volatilization; also the organic forms are generally more mobile in the aquatic and terrestrial environment and more toxic than the inorganic forms.…”

Transformation of mercuric chloride and methylmercury by the rumen microflora

“…Cultures representing the major groups of anaerobic bacteria present in the rumen were tested for CH3Hg'-demethylating activity (Table 4). Of the 16 cultures tested, 3 exhibited demethylating activity. These included: Desulfovibrio desulfuricans, Selenomonas ruminantium D, and Megasphaera elsdenii.…”

Organometallic Compounds in the Environment

“…Activated sludge, both sterilized and unsterilized, methylated mercuric compounds, indicating the presence of both biotic and abiotic pathways (60). Soils from agricultural fields, when spiked with labeled mercuric nitrate, formed methylmercuric ion (62). Soils from agricultural fields, when spiked with labeled mercuric nitrate, formed methylmercuric ion (62).…”