Numéro |
J. Phys. IV France
Volume 121, December 2004
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Page(s) | 185 - 193 | |
DOI | https://doi.org/10.1051/jp4:2004121012 |
J. Phys. IV France 121 (2004) 185-193
DOI: 10.1051/jp4:2004121012
Toxicity, sources and biogeochemical cycle of mercury
P. Jitaru and F. AdamsUniversity of Antwerp, Department of Chemistry, Campus Drie Eiken, Universiteitsplein 1, 2610 Wilrijk, Belgium
Abstract
Among the heavy metals, mercury is one of the most
studied environmental pollutants. This is largely due to its toxicity and
its high mobility in the environment. Due to the ability to travel over long
distances in the atmosphere as gaseous elemental species, far from the point
emission source, mercury is regarded as a `global pollutant'. The maximum
toxicity of mercury is given by its methylated form, methylmercury. The main
pathway of contamination of the humans with mercury is the food chain, where
the most toxic species, methylmercury, bioaccumulates. This species is
widely recognized as a neurotoxin affecting humans. Since it is recognized
that not only the total concentration of mercury in an environmental
compartment but its chemical forms determine the toxicity/essentiality and
bioavailability, there is growing need in developing analytical methods able
to distinguish among its species.
© EDP Sciences 2004