Microalgae species are capable of degrading environmental methylmercury a new study finds. Researchers from the Oak Ridge National Laboratory report that some species of microalgae were capable of detoxifying methylmercury a neurotoxin.
Methylmercury forms due to the interaction of bacteria and mercury in the environment, it is a very potent neurotoxin. Methylmercury in humans affects cognitive thinking, motor skills, brain development, and more. It also affects the other organ systems deleteriously. People usually get exposed to methylmercury after consuming fish and shellfish.
Microalgae Detoxify Methylmercury
In this study, researchers looked at different types of phytoplankton and found that some of them can break down methylmercury without light. This process was carried out without relying on bacteria.
The team made use of the freshwater alga Chlorella vulgaris, the marine diatom Chaetoceros gracilis, and two cyanobacteria (or blue-green algae). They discovered that these algae degraded methylmercury to inorganic Hg(II) a less toxic and less mobile form of mercury and elemental Hg(0) the natural form used in thermometers, which evaporates into the atmosphere.
Around 36-85% of MeHg can be broken down inside the plants into a less harmful form. This breakdown is mainly driven by certain types of molecules that create reactive oxygen, especially one called singlet oxygen.Â
Potential Future Benefits
The knowledge that phytoplankton can help break down MeHg, a harmful neurotoxin, can aid in developing better management strategies for controlling methylmercury levels in aquatic ecosystems.
This knowledge could contribute to the development of more effective measures to reduce methylmercury bioaccumulation and its negative effects on aquatic life and human health.
The study’s findings into the role of phytoplankton in methylmercury degradation could lead to better and healthier aquatic food chains.
As methylmercury gets broken down by phytoplankton, it becomes less concentrated in the bodies of larger organisms that consume them.
This could ultimately lead to reduced MeHg exposure for fish and other animals higher up in the food chain, including humans.
The discovery of the light-independent pathway through which phytoplankton can break down methylmercury without light affects how we understand methylmercury in water systems. This could make models better at predicting methylmercury effects on the environment and health, leading to smarter decisions.
By promoting the detoxification of MeHg, phytoplankton could help maintain the balance and stability of aquatic ecosystems, leading to healthier and more resilient environments.
This study’s contribution to our understanding of MeHg degradation by phytoplankton opens up new avenues for further research.
Scientists could explore ways to enhance phytoplankton’s natural ability to break down MeHg, potentially leading to bioremediation techniques that use phytoplankton for environmental cleanup.
Research has found that increased algal blooms are associated with increased methylmercury concentrations as the bacteria present can convert mercury to methylmercury. Through future research mitigation of harmful algal blooms is also possible.
Recent research has also been focused on understanding the transformation processes of mercury in the environment. Researchers believe that a better understanding of these processes could aid in developing mechanisms to abate and improve conditions.
