Progress in the study of mercury methylation and demethylation in aquatic environments  

作　　者：LI YanBin CAI Yong 

机构地区：[1]Department of Chemistry & Biochemistry,Southeast Environmental Research Center,Florida International University

出　　处：《Chinese Science Bulletin》2013年第2期177-185,共9页

基　　金：supported by the U.S. Department of Energy(DE-FG01-05EW07033);the National Natural Science Foundation of China (21120102040)

摘　　要：Mercury(Hg) and its compounds are a class of highly toxic and pervasive pollutants.During the biogeochemical cycling of Hg,methylmercury(MeHg),a potent neurotoxin,can be produced and subsequently bioaccumulated along the food chain in aquatic ecosystems.MeHg is among the most widespread contaminants that pose severe health risks to humans and wildlife.Methylation of inorganic mercury to MeHg and demethylation of MeHg are the two most important processes in the cycling of MeHg,determining the levels of MeHg in aquatic ecosystems.This paper reviews recent progress on the study of Hg methylation and demethylation in aquatic environments,focusing on the following three areas:(1) sites and pathways of Hg methylation and demethylation,(2) bioavailability of Hg species for methylation and demethylation,and(3) application of isotope addition techniques in quantitatively estimating the net production of MeHg.Mercury （Hg） and its compounds are a class of highly toxic and pervasive pollutants. During the biogeochemical cycling of Hg, methylmercury （MeHg）, a potent neurotoxin, can be produced and subsequently bioaccumulated along the food chain in aquatic ecosystems. MeHg is among the most widespread contaminants that pose severe health risks to humans and wildlife. Methylation of inorganic mercury to MeHg and demethylation of MeHg are the two most important processes in the cycling of MeHg, determining the levels of MeHg in aquatic ecosystems. This paper reviews recent progress on the study of Hg methylation and demethylation in aquatic environments, focusing on the following three areas： （1） sites and pathways of Hg methylation and demethylation, （2） bioavailability of Hg species for methylation and demethylation, and （3） application of isotope addition techniques in quantitatively estimating the net production of MeHg.

关 键 词：去甲基化 水生环境 甲基汞 生物地球化学 水生生态系统 循环过程 生物利用度 神经毒素 

分 类 号：X131.2[环境科学与工程—环境科学]