Dimethylmercury and dimethylmercury-sulfide of microbial origin in the biogeochemical cycle of HG

Abstract

The transformation of MeHg under anaerobic conditions in axenic cultures ofDesulfovibrio desulfuricans strain LS is compared to that in anoxic marine sediments contaminated by Hg of industrial origin. MeHg was added to cultures ofD. desulfuricans strain LS and incubated at 28°C for two weeks. Significant amounts of dimethylmercury and metacinnabar were produced. These two Hg compounds were formed from the slow decomposition of the intermediate dimethylmercury-sulfide. Other collateral compounds, such as methane and ionic Hg, were also detected during the MeHg degradation process. On the other hand a sample of fresh sediment (1.5 g d.w.) was spiked with 10 μg of MeHg and 2 mmoles.ml⁻¹ of pyruvate, as carbon source for sulfate-reducing bacteria. After 9 days of incubation at 28°C, significant amounts of dimethylmercury were produced. A lower content of this volatile species was found in a subsample of sediment supplemented with sodium molybdate, which is a strong inhibitor of sulfatereducing activity. A kinetic study showed the disappearance of monomethylmercury from the sediment and the formation of dimethylmercury over the incubation period. The environmental significance of dimethylmercury and dimethylmercury-sulfide in the natural biogeochemical cycle of Hg is discussed.