A new study authored by researchers from the Oak Ridge National Laboratory has shown that more forms of mercury can be converted to methylmercury, a deadly compound, than previously known,\u00a0according to a news release from the laboratory.<\/p>\n
Earlier this year, researchers discovered two genes that help water-bound microbes convert oxidized mercury to methylmercury, a neurotoxin that can damage brain and muscle tissue.<\/p>\n
Methylmercury accumulates in aquatic species, specifically in larger fish, and can be passed on to humans through consumption of these contaminated species.<\/p>\n
This research could be used in the future to target regions where bacteria are most likely to produce methylmercury in order to stop contamination before it starts.<\/p>\n
Image: Diagram of conversion of mercury into methylmercury (Credit: ORNL)<\/span><\/em><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" A new study authored by researchers from the Oak Ridge National Laboratory has shown that more forms of mercury can be converted to methylmercury, a deadly compound, than previously known,\u00a0according to a news release from the laboratory. Earlier this year, researchers discovered two genes that help water-bound microbes convert oxidized mercury to methylmercury, a neurotoxin […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":14,"featured_media":14122,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[7],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-14120","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-news"],"remote_post_permalink":false,"remote_post_featured_image":false,"yoast_head":"\n