How is methyl mercury formed?
In the environment methyl mercury is formed by the biomethylation of Hg2+ by anaerobic organisms found in aquatic systems such as oceans, rivers and lakes. As a result methyl mercury can be found in marine sediments and sludges. Methyl mercury is also formed in fish and shellfish where it proconcentrates to levels significantly higher than the levels in the water. Industrially, methyl mercury can also be formed as a byproduct of acetaldehyde formation (which is what lead to Minimata disease). Once methyl mercury is formed it is biomagnified in fish and shellfish to potentially dangerous levels.
