Abiotic Methylation of Mercury in the Aquatic Environment.
From: Department of Chemistry, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, ON, Canada. Valbona.Celo@ec.gc.ca
The Science of the total environment
- Publish Date: Sep 2006
- ISSN: 0048-9697
- Volume: 368
- Issue: 1
- Pages: 126-37
- Medium: Print
- Language: English
- Citation (JAMA): Celo Valbona, Lean David R S, Scott Susannah L, et al. Abiotic Methylation of Mercury in the Aquatic Environment.. Sci. Total Environ. Sep 2006;368:126-37
Abstract
Methylation of inorganic mercury in the aquatic environment has been considered to be largely the result of biological processes, primarily involving sulfate-reducing bacteria. However, these processes cannot account for all of the methylmercury that is formed naturally. A growing body of evidence suggests that chemical reactions represent another possible pathway for mercury methylation in the aquatic environment. In order to assess the abiotic contribution to mercury methylation in the water column, and specifically the conditions under which this contribution may be significant, the current state of knowledge about environmentally significant methylation reactions is reviewed. Results of our laboratory-based investigations of aqueous mercury reactions with some potential methyl donors, including MeCo(dmg)(2)(H2O), a simple model for methylcobalamin, various methyltin compounds and methyl iodide, are presented. In each reaction, the yield of methylmercury and the rate of methylation depend strongly on environmental factors such as pH, temperature, and the presence of complexing agents, especially chloride.
Mesh Headings (Keywords): Bacteria, Chlorides, Hydrocarbons, Iodinated, Hydrogen-Ion Concentration, Mercury, Methylation, Methylmercury Compounds, Organotin Compounds, Temperature, Vitamin B 12, Water Pollutants, Chemical
Check for Full Text / PubMed Unique Identifier (PMID): 16226793
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