Study of the dynamics of the accumulation of two mercury compounds — HgCl2and CH3HgCl — byChlorella vulgaris:effect of temperature and pH factor of the environment

Abstract

The comparative study of the bioaccumulation of HgCl2 and CH3HgCl by C. vulgaris in experimental conditions revealed 2 important factors linked with the means of contamination. The great speed of Hg fixing, whatever form of Hg was used, and the decrease in the capacity to accumulate HgCl2 linked with a decrease in temperature and/or an increase in the pH factor of the environment. These observations at the base of the food chain revealed a slight variation in the accumulation capacities of algae, according to the chemical form of Hg, although in extreme cases these could lead to concentration variations > 50%.