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In situ methylation of mercury in estuarine sediment

Nature volume 252, pages 682–683 (1974)Cite this article

Abstract

THE methylation of mercury compounds in sediments, believed to be a biological process, has been shown in a number of laboratory experiments1–5. Background levels of methylmercury (CH3Hg) have been reported for estuarine sediments from the Mississippi Delta, Mobile Bay and the Florida Everglades6. We now report that sediment in San Francisco Bay contained background levels of methylmercury and methylated mercuric chloride (HgCl2) in situ.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Division of Environmental Health Services, School of Public Health, University of California, Berkeley, California, 94720

    BETTY H. OLSON & ROBERT C. COOPER

Authors
  1. BETTY H. OLSON
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  2. ROBERT C. COOPER
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OLSON, B., COOPER, R. In situ methylation of mercury in estuarine sediment. Nature 252, 682–683 (1974). https://doi.org/10.1038/252682b0

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