ScienceAsia 1 (1975): 167-177 |doi: 10.2306/scienceasia1513-1874.1975.01.167

AQUATIC ENVIRONMENTAL MERCURY CONTAMINATION

PIAMSAK MENASVETA

Summary: The effect that man has had on the mass balance of mercury in the marine environment is relatively insignificant. Recent attention has been focused on the problem of local mercury-contaminated areas caused by man. Many forms of mercury are introduced into the aquatic environment. As mercury has a strong affinity with organic compounds. a large portion of the introduced mercury will eventually be absorbed by the organic particles and settle on the bottom of the waterways. It also appears that any form of mercury will be methylated by the interaction of microbial action and chemical reaction in the sediment.

          Some soluble portions of methyl mercury will be released from the sediment and readily taken up by the living organisms. Plants accumulate methylmercury by passive absorption. In contrast. fish can concentrate methylmercury through their food as well as through their gills. Since the uptake rate of methyl mercury is much faster than the normal eliminationate and the methylmercury has a metabolizable character. it is retained in the organism and mercury concentration amplified along the food chain. Methylmercury is more dangerous than other kinds of mercury compounds.

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Department of Marine Science, Faculty of Science, Chulalongkorn University

Received 25 March 1975