Methylmercury: Bacterial Degradation in Lake Sediments

During the first 50 days of a long-term period of incubation of lake sediments with inorganic mercury (Hg$^{2+}$), low concentrations of methylmercury were observed to build up. Upon continued incubation there was a rapid decrease in amount of methylmercury in the system and a concomitant evolution...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Science (American Association for the Advancement of Science) 1973-04, Vol.180 (4082), p.192-193
Main Authors: Spangler, William J., Spigarelli, James L., Rose, Joseph M., Miller, Hope M.
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Cultured cells
Flasks
Freshwater
Gas chromatography
Inlet temperature
Lipoproteins
Methylation
Radioactive decay
Sediments
Vaporizing
Volatility
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Summary:During the first 50 days of a long-term period of incubation of lake sediments with inorganic mercury (Hg$^{2+}$), low concentrations of methylmercury were observed to build up. Upon continued incubation there was a rapid decrease in amount of methylmercury in the system and a concomitant evolution of volatile inorganic mercury (Hg$^{0}$). Transfer of the mixed culture to growth media containing methylmercury resulted in the degradation of methylmercury and the volatilization of Hg$^{0}$. Four bacterial isolates were obtained from the mixed culture which, in pure culture, rapidly degraded methylmercury to methane and Hg$^{0}$. The presence of methane in head space gases was confirmed by flameionization gas chromatography, and the presence of Hg$^{0}$ in head space gases was confirmed by mass spectrometry.
ISSN:0036-8075
1095-9203
DOI:10.1126/science.180.4082.192