Stability of methylmercury and inorganic mercury in aquatic plants (Elodea densa)
- 1 February 1980
- journal article
- research article
- Published by Canadian Science Publishing in Canadian Journal of Botany
- Vol. 58 (3) , 316-320
- https://doi.org/10.1139/b80-032
Abstract
E. densa plants containing either methylmercury or inorganic mercury-203 were transferred to a flowing water system along with untreated plants for a period of 6 mo. Although little or no radioactivity was measurable in the water throughout the experimental period, untreated plants accumulated some methylmercury (MMC) and to a lesser extent inorganic mercury (MC) within the 1st month. Treated plants lost more MC than MMC within the 1st month. The 2 species of mercury move in opposite directions within the plant with time: MMC moves toward young tissue whereas MC moves toward older tissue. Methylmercury remains stable in younger plant tissues almost indefinitely, but converts partly to inorganic forms in old and decomposed tissue. Conversion of inorganic mercury to methylmercury was not detected.This publication has 3 references indexed in Scilit:
- Isotopic organic and inorganic mercury exchange in river waterEnvironmental Science & Technology, 1977
- Submergent Macrophytes: Growth Under Winter Ice CoverScience, 1976
- The role of methylmercury production in the transfer of mercury in a salt marsh ecosystemEstuarine and Coastal Marine Science, 1976