Photodegradation of methylmercury in lakes and wetlands

Authors

  • Cristal Fernández-Gómez Institut de Diagnosi Ambiental i Estudis de l’Aigua (IDÆA-CSIC). Departament de Química Ambiental
  • Josep M. Bayona Institut de Diagnosi Ambiental i Estudis de l’Aigua (IDÆA-CSIC). Departament de Química Ambiental
  • Sergi Díez Institut de Diagnosi Ambiental i Estudis de l’Aigua (IDÆA-CSIC). Departament de Química Ambiental

Keywords:

Methylmercury, photodegradation, solar radiation, dissolved organic matter, lakes, wetlands.

Abstract

Methylmercury (MeHg) is a hazardous pollutant due to its proved neurotoxicity, so it is a subject of increasing environmental concern in aquatic systems all around the world. MeHg degradation in water is a crucial process in the mercury biogeochemical cycle but not all the mechanisms involved are as yet fully known. Although microbial demethylation of MeHg was observed both in sediment and water column, photodegradation is commonly considered to be the main pathway of MeHg removal in continental waters exposed to sunlight. In this paper the most significant findings on this issue are reviewed and the different factors affecting MeHg photodecomposition in lakes and wetlands are discussed.

Keywords: Methylmercury, photodegradation, solar radiation, dissolved organic matter, lakes, wetlands.

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Issue

No. 11 (2012)

Section

Articles

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