Methylmercury

{
  "id": "MLC-T-ENV-017143",
  "term": "Methylmercury",
  "field": "Environment",
  "definition": "1. Mercury also combines with carbon to make organic mercury compounds. The most common one, methylmercury, is produced mainly by microscopic organisms in the water and soil. More mercury in the environment can increase the amounts of methylmercury that these small organisms make.\n\n2. An organic form of mercury, created from metallic or elemental mercury by bacteria in sediments. Methylmercury is easily absorbed into the living tissue of aquatic organisms and is not easily eliminated. Therefore, it accumulates in organisms at the top of food chains such as tuna or humans. It can cause adverse effects in children exposed before or after birth.",
  "subject": "Chemical substances",
  "references": [
    "CDC Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry Toxic Substances Portal",
    "ACE Glossary of Terms; America's Children and the Environment Terms"
  ],
  "url": "https://mlchart.com/terminology/environment/methylmercury/"
}