Competition for mercury between river sediment and bacteria

Journal Article · Sun May 01 04:00:00 EDT 1977 · Bull. Environ. Contam. Toxicol.; (United States)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01685971· OSTI ID:5090877

Ramamoorthy, S; Springthorpe, S; Kushner, D J

It was shown that bacteria compete very effectively with sediment in accumulating mercuric ions from river water. The concentrations of bacteria used in the experiments are greater than those normally found in natural waters, but not grossly so: a total of about 1.4g (dry weight) in 5.5 l of river water. From estimations of the weight per cell (about 10/sup -12/ g from total cell counts) it is calculated that the concentration of cells for the whole water system studied was 2.5 x 10/sup 8//ml. Viable counts of 1.7 x 10/sup 7//ml were found in a badly polluted arm of the Ottawa River and 2.4 x 10/sup 6/ in a less polluted part. Quite substantial numbers of bacteria and other microorganisms can exist in natural waters and should have a significant effect on the mobilization of mercury from the presumed ''sink'' (the sediment) into food chains. No evidence was obtained for any conversion to organic forms of mercury in the system used, but it seems likely that any increase in the flux of mercury would promote interconversions to organic compounds.

• Research Organization: Univ. of Ottawa
• OSTI ID: 5090877
• Journal Information: Bull. Environ. Contam. Toxicol.; (United States), Journal Name: Bull. Environ. Contam. Toxicol.; (United States) Vol. 17:5; ISSN BECTA
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

550200* -- Biochemistry
550700 -- Microbiology
560302 -- Chemicals Metabolism & Toxicology-- Microorganisms-- (-1987)
59 BASIC BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES
63 RADIATION, THERMAL, AND OTHER ENVIRON. POLLUTANT EFFECTS ON LIVING ORGS. AND BIOL. MAT.
BACTERIA
BIOLOGICAL ACCUMULATION
CONTAMINATION
ECOLOGICAL CONCENTRATION
ELEMENTS
ENVIRONMENTAL TRANSPORT
HYDROGEN COMPOUNDS
MASS TRANSFER
MERCURY
METALS
MICROORGANISMS
MINERAL CYCLING
OTTAWA RIVER
OXYGEN COMPOUNDS
RIVERS
SEDIMENTS
STREAMS
SURFACE WATERS
WATER