抄録
Examination on methylation of inorganic mercury in activated sludge, sewage, urine, and aqueous extract of feces gave the following results. (1) In the case of activated sludge, inorganic mercury was methylated irrespective of whether it was sterilized or not. This fact suggests that methylation by the sludge proceeded not noly biologically but also chemically. (2) In the case of the sediment of activated sludge, inorganic mercury was methylated, whether it was irradiated by xenon lamp not. (3) In the case of the supernatant of activated sludge, inorganic mercury was methylated only under light irradiation. (4) In the case of sewage, urine, and aqueous extract of feces, inorganic mercury was methylated only under light irradiation. These results suggest that inorganic mercury might be converted to methylmercury compounds in natural environment.
