Biological methylation of mercury in aquatic organisms

ABSTRACT FRESHWATER fish, especially pike (_Esox lucius_), from Sweden sometimes contain abnormally large amounts of mercury1. It was initially concluded to be either inorganic mercury or

phenyl mercury, which are known to be released as industrial wastes, but later it was shown that the mercury was present almost entirely as methyl mercury (CH3Hg+)2. A possible explanation

is that living organisms have the capacity to methylate mercury compounds present in pollution. We now report that both mono and dimethylmercury (CH3Hg+ and CH3HgCH3) can be produced in

bottom sediments and in rotten fish, and relate the findings to the hazards of mercury pollution. Access through your institution Buy or subscribe This is a preview of subscription content,

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THOMPSONI_ AS A BIOINDICATOR OF MERCURY ORIGIN Article Open access 26 January 2024 METHYLMERCURY PRODUCED IN UPPER OCEANS ACCUMULATES IN DEEP MARIANA TRENCH FAUNA Article Open access 07

July 2020 EXPERIMENTAL EVIDENCE FOR RECOVERY OF MERCURY-CONTAMINATED FISH POPULATIONS Article Open access 15 December 2021 REFERENCES * Westermark, T., _Kvicksilverfrågan i Sverige_

(Stockholm, 1965) 25 (1964 års Naturresursutredning, Jordbruksdepartementet, Kvicksilverkonferensen, 1965). * Westöö, G., _Acta Chem. Scand._, 20, 2131 (1966). Article  Google Scholar  *

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II, Biocid-information_, 14, Nordforsk, Feb. 1968. Google Scholar  * Hannerz, L., Annual report from Fresh Water Research Laboratory, Drottningholm, 1968. * Jernelöv, A., Proceedings of the

first Rochester Conference on Toxicity, June 1968 (in the press). Download references AUTHOR INFORMATION AUTHORS AND AFFILIATIONS * Institute of Analytical Chemistry, University of

Stockholm, S. JENSEN * Swedish Water and Air Pollution Research Laboratory, Stockholm A. JERNELÖV Authors * S. JENSEN View author publications You can also search for this author inPubMed 

Google Scholar * A. JERNELÖV View author publications You can also search for this author inPubMed Google Scholar RIGHTS AND PERMISSIONS Reprints and permissions ABOUT THIS ARTICLE CITE THIS

ARTICLE JENSEN, S., JERNELÖV, A. Biological Methylation of Mercury in Aquatic Organisms. _Nature_ 223, 753–754 (1969). https://doi.org/10.1038/223753a0 Download citation * Received: 24

March 1969 * Revised: 30 June 1969 * Issue Date: 16 August 1969 * DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/223753a0 SHARE THIS ARTICLE Anyone you share the following link with will be able to read this

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