Difference between revisions of "Methylmercury"
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== Notes == | == Notes == | ||
| − | While inorganic mercury is the dominant form, most mercury which accumulates in [[benthic]] invertabrates and fish is methylmercury. Unlike other metals, methylmercury [[biomagnification|biomagnifies]] through the food chain. As such methylmercury is mostly hazardous for organisms on the top of the food chain. This holds true for fish and [[ | + | While inorganic mercury is the dominant form, most mercury which accumulates in [[benthic]] invertabrates and fish is methylmercury. Unlike other metals, methylmercury [[biomagnification|biomagnifies]] through the food chain. As such methylmercury is mostly hazardous for organisms on the top of the food chain. This holds true for fish and [[minamata disease|humans]]. [[toxic substances in sea birds|Birds]] and [[toxic substances in Sea Mammals|Marine mammals]] are quite resistant towards methylmercury accumulation<ref>↑ Kennish, M. J. (1996): Practical Handbook of Estuarine and Marine Pollution, CRC Press 524 pp</ref> |
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Revision as of 15:57, 8 July 2009
Definition of Methylmercury:
Soluble and highly toxic compound of mercury formed in the environment by microbial methylation of mercury. [1]
This is the common definition for Methylmercury, other definitions can be discussed in the article
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Notes
While inorganic mercury is the dominant form, most mercury which accumulates in benthic invertabrates and fish is methylmercury. Unlike other metals, methylmercury biomagnifies through the food chain. As such methylmercury is mostly hazardous for organisms on the top of the food chain. This holds true for fish and humans. Birds and Marine mammals are quite resistant towards methylmercury accumulation[2]
