Screening of common bacteria capable of demethylation of methylmercuric chloride.

In summary, 21 bacteria were capable or degrading methylmercury chloride as measured by the disappearance of that species from the soil culture media. Disappearance of the methylated form was also accompanied by loss of total mercury in the culture media--probably as a result of reduction of the initial metabolite to volatile Hgo. The role of bacteria in the reduction step is not clear at this time although several authors (SUMMERS et al. 1972 and 1973; BISOGNI and LAWRENCE 1973 ) have suggested facilitated reduction rates in the presence of microorganisms.