Methylation of mercury compounds in soil,sediment and sewage-sludge samples

Summary Sediments of the rivers Rhine and Yssel and sewage sludge samples showed high mercury contents (5–30 ppm). Usually less than 1% — in one sludge sample 5% — of the mercury was in the form of methylmercury. Incubation of these samples, under varied aerobic and anaerobic conditions, with or without HgCl₂ or phenylmercuryacetate added, gave no or only very slight formation of methylmercury.Most agricultural soils have a mercury content below 0.1 ppm and methylation will be no problem.