Search Result
Technology Innovation News Survey Feed (RSS)
MECHANISMS OF METHYL MERCURY NET DEGRADATION IN ALDER SWAMPS: THE ROLE OF METHANOGENS AND ABIOTIC PROCESSES
Kronberg, R.M., J.K. Schaefer, E. Bjoern, and U. Skyllberg.
Environmental Science & Technology Letters 5(4):220-225(2018)
Wetlands are common net producers of the neurotoxin monomethylmercury (MeHg) and are largely responsible for MeHg bioaccumulation in aquatic food-webs. Black alder (Alnus glutinosa) swamps, however, net degrade MeHg. This paper reports the mechanisms of MeHg demethylation in one such swamp, shown to be a sink for MeHg over four consecutive years. The potential demethylation rate constant in soil incubations was ~3 times higher in the downstream as compared to the upstream part of the swamp. This difference concurred with increased stream and soil pH and a change in plant community composition. Though methanogen-specific transcripts (mcrA) were found throughout the wetland, transcripts clustering with Methanosaetaceae suggested a possible role for these acetoclastic methanogens in MeHg degradation. See additional information on this work in R.M. Kronberg's thesis at https://pub.epsilon.slu.se/10994/
Environmental Science & Technology Letters 5(4):220-225(2018)
Wetlands are common net producers of the neurotoxin monomethylmercury (MeHg) and are largely responsible for MeHg bioaccumulation in aquatic food-webs. Black alder (Alnus glutinosa) swamps, however, net degrade MeHg. This paper reports the mechanisms of MeHg demethylation in one such swamp, shown to be a sink for MeHg over four consecutive years. The potential demethylation rate constant in soil incubations was ~3 times higher in the downstream as compared to the upstream part of the swamp. This difference concurred with increased stream and soil pH and a change in plant community composition. Though methanogen-specific transcripts (mcrA) were found throughout the wetland, transcripts clustering with Methanosaetaceae suggested a possible role for these acetoclastic methanogens in MeHg degradation. See additional information on this work in R.M. Kronberg's thesis at https://pub.epsilon.slu.se/10994/
The Technology Innovation News Survey welcomes your comments and
suggestions, as well as information about errors for correction. Please
contact Michael Adam of the U.S. EPA Office of Superfund Remediation
and Technology Innovation at adam.michael@epa.gov or (703) 603-9915
with any comments, suggestions, or corrections.
Mention of non-EPA documents, presentations, or papers does not constitute a U.S. EPA endorsement of their contents, only an acknowledgment that they exist and may be relevant to the Technology Innovation News Survey audience.
