Mercury uptake by fish and biomethylation mechanisms

Journal Article · Mon Mar 01 04:00:00 EST 1976 · J. Water Pollut. Control Fed.; (United States)

OSTI ID:7328008

Shin, E B ^[1]; Krenkel, P A

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1. Korea Inst. of Science and Tech., Seoul

Methylmercury uptake by fish, GAMBUSIA AFFINIS and POECILIA RETICULATUS, was affected by the form of mercury present, the microorganisms present and their population density, and the sorption characteristics of sediments. Generally, the higher the mercury concentration in the sediment, the more methylmercury uptake by the fish; however, the quantity of methylmercury taken up by the fish does not seem to be directly proportional to the amount of mercury present. Generally, the higher the temperature, the higher the methylmercury uptake rate by fish and the larger the reaction rate constant with a shorter half-life. More methylmercury uptake by fish was found using mercuric chloride than mercuric sulfide as the mercury source. The highest methylmercury uptake by fish and methylation in the sediments occurred at about 200 mg/l of chloride ion. No discernible trend was found as to the effects of organics on methylmercury uptake by fish. Demethylation of methylmercury was observed in the sediments with all of the parameters tested. A higher methylation reaction rate constant with a shorter half-life occurred at a neutral point of pH. (ND)

• OSTI ID: 7328008
• Journal Information: J. Water Pollut. Control Fed.; (United States), Journal Name: J. Water Pollut. Control Fed.; (United States) Vol. 48:3; ISSN JWPFA
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

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54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES
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59 BASIC BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES
63 RADIATION, THERMAL, AND OTHER ENVIRON. POLLUTANT EFFECTS ON LIVING ORGS. AND BIOL. MAT.
ANIMALS
AQUATIC ORGANISMS
BODY BURDEN
BUILDUP
CHALCOGENIDES
CHEMICAL REACTIONS
CHLORIDES
CHLORINE COMPOUNDS
CONTAMINATION
ELEMENTS
FISHES
HALIDES
HALOGEN COMPOUNDS
MERCURY
MERCURY CHLORIDES
MERCURY COMPOUNDS
MERCURY HALIDES
MERCURY SULFIDES
METALS
METHYLATION
METHYLMERCURY
ORGANIC COMPOUNDS
ORGANIC MERCURY COMPOUNDS
PH VALUE
SEDIMENTS
SULFIDES
SULFUR COMPOUNDS
TEMPERATURE DEPENDENCE
UPTAKE
VERTEBRATES