Summary
Sediments of the rivers Rhine and Yssel and sewage sludge samples showed high mercury contents (5–30 ppm). Usually less than 1% — in one sludge sample 5% — of the mercury was in the form of methylmercury. Incubation of these samples, under varied aerobic and anaerobic conditions, with or without HgCl2 or phenylmercuryacetate added, gave no or only very slight formation of methylmercury.
Most agricultural soils have a mercury content below 0.1 ppm and methylation will be no problem.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
References
Jernelöv, A. and Jensen, S., Nature 223, 753–754 (1969).
Hoover, W. L. et al., Soil Sci. Soc. Am. Proc. 35, 850–852 (1971).
Hatch, W. R. and Ott, W. L., Anal. Chem. 40, 2085–2087 (1968).
Westöö, G., Acta Chem. Scand. 22, 2277–2280 (1968).
Poelstra, P. et al., Neth. J. Agr. Sci. 21, 77–84 (1973).
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
van Faassen, H.G. Methylation of mercury compounds in soil, sediment and sewage-sludge samples. Plant Soil 44, 505–509 (1976). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00015908
Received:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00015908