THE ROLE OF MICROBIAL TRANSFORMATIONS IN CONTROLLING METHYLMERCURY ACCUMULATION IN AQUATIC ENVIRONMENTS

摘要

The major concern with Hg contamination is the formation of the neurotoxic substance MeHg and its bioaccumulation in aquatic biota. Surprisingly, in highly contaminated environments MeHg accumulation is low relative to that in environments with low levels of contamination. We are testing the hypothesis that microbial MeHg degradation is induced by high Hg(II) concentrations in highly contaminated environments. Our hypothesis is supported by results from two contaminated ecosystems.