Methods for measuring specific rates of mercury methylation and degradation and their use in determining factors controlling net rates of mercury methylation
A method was developed to estimate specific rates of demethylation of methyl mercury in aquatic samples by measuring the volatile /sup 14/C end products of /sup 14/CH/sub 3/HgI demethylation. This method was used in conjuction with a /sup 203/Hg/sup 2 +/ radiochemical method which determines specific rates of mercury methylation. Together, these methods enabled us to examine some factors controlling the net rate of mercury methylation. The methodologies were field tested, using lake sediment samples from a recently flooded reservoir in the Southern Indian Lake system which had developed a mercury contamination problem in fish. Ratios of the specific rates of methylation/demethylation were calculated. The highest ratios of methylation/demethylation were calculated. The highest ratios of methylation/demethylation occurred in the flooded shorelines of Southern Indian Lake. These results provide an explanation for the observed increases in the methyl mercury concentrations in fish after flooding.
- Research Organization:
- Agassiz North Associates, Winnipeg, Manitoba
- OSTI ID:
- 5022394
- Journal Information:
- Appl. Environ. Microbiol.; (United States), Vol. 51:1
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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Related Subjects
59 BASIC BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES
MERCURY
BIODEGRADATION
METHYLATION
METHYLMERCURY
ECOLOGICAL CONCENTRATION
AQUATIC ECOSYSTEMS
CARBON 14 COMPOUNDS
CONTAMINATION
EXPERIMENTAL DATA
FIELD TESTS
FISHES
LAKES
MERCURY 203
RADIOCHEMICAL ANALYSIS
SEDIMENTS
TRACER TECHNIQUES
ANIMALS
AQUATIC ORGANISMS
BETA DECAY RADIOISOTOPES
BETA-MINUS DECAY RADIOISOTOPES
CHEMICAL ANALYSIS
CHEMICAL REACTIONS
DATA
DAYS LIVING RADIOISOTOPES
DECOMPOSITION
ECOSYSTEMS
ELEMENTS
EVEN-ODD NUCLEI
HEAVY NUCLEI
INFORMATION
ISOTOPE APPLICATIONS
ISOTOPES
LABELLED COMPOUNDS
MERCURY COMPOUNDS
MERCURY ISOTOPES
METALS
NUCLEI
NUMERICAL DATA
ORGANIC COMPOUNDS
ORGANIC MERCURY COMPOUNDS
QUANTITATIVE CHEMICAL ANALYSIS
RADIOISOTOPES
SURFACE WATERS
TESTING
VERTEBRATES
520200* - Environment
Aquatic- Chemicals Monitoring & Transport- (-1989)
550501 - Metabolism- Tracer Techniques