methylmercury

[meth-uhl-mur-kyuh-ree]

noun

Chemistry.

1. any of several extremely toxic organometallic compounds, Hg(CH3 ) 2 , formed from metallic mercury by the action of microorganisms and capable of entering the food chain: used as seed disinfectants.

Word History and Origins

Origin of methylmercury¹

First recorded in 1915–20; methyl + mercury

Example Sentences

Exposure studies usually test for methylmercury, a powerful neurotoxin formed when bacteria, in this case in rivers, metabolize inorganic mercury.

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But this protein-rich fish can build up high levels of methylmercury from feeding on contaminated prey, like smaller fish or crustaceans.

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However, people can still be exposed to methylmercury, and unborn babies and young children are at highest risk of harm.

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Methylmercury is a particularly toxic chemical that affects the nervous system and is expected to be the primary form of mercury in reference to tuna contamination.

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So, researchers set out to determine whether lower atmospheric emissions resulted in lower concentrations of mercury in the oceans, specifically the methylmercury found in food sources that sit at the top of the food chain like tuna.

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