Methylmercury

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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

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 expected to be most hazardous for organisms on the top of the food chain. This holds true for fish, terrestrial birds and humans. Sea birds and marine mammals appear to be quite resistant towards methylmercury accumulation. Methylmercury is formed naturally from mercury in anoxic sediments by bacteria.[2]

Refernces

  1. ↑ Lawrence E (ed.), 2000. Henderson’s Dictionary of Biological Terms. 12th edition. Prentice Hall, Pearson Education Limited. Harlow, Great Britain.
  2. ↑ ↑ Kennish, M. J. (1996): Practical Handbook of Estuarine and Marine Pollution, CRC Press 524 pp
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