Conversion and Partitioning of Radio-Labelled Mercury Chloride in Aquatic Model Systems

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Abstract
Conversion and partitioning of radio-labelled inorganic mercury (203HgCl2) was studied in freshwater model systems composed of sediment and water, or water alone, incubated for up to 10 d. The mercury fractions studied were total 203Hg and methyl 203Hg in water and sediment, respectively, and volatilized 203Hg in the gas phase. Water samples were filtered to obtain values for dissolved total 203Hg and methyl 203Hg, respectively. Methylated 203Hg was detected in all systems. Most of the methyl-203Hg was bound to the sediments. Net methyl 203Hg production in a system with reduced sediment was an order of magnitude greater than in the other systems. Volatilization of 203Hg was most rapid in the systems without sediment, while no volatilization took place in sterilized systems.