Methylmercury Minimata

S4 Stalinon disaster in France. About the same time the first cases of Minimata disease (methylmercury poisoning) appear. 

Bioalkylation of Hg has received considerable attention owing to its suspected involvement in Minimata Disease in which human poisonings in Japan and Sweden occurred after ingestion of fish and shellfish containing methylmercury. Methylmercury is a potent neurotoxin at low concentrations with a long biological half-life, and thus can be concentrated in food chains, even if present in small amounts in waters -. ... 

Uchida et al 2 have shown that the mercury compound in the shellfish that caused the Minimata disease (Japan) was methyl (methylthio) mercury. Westoo concluded that it is reasonable to assume that methylmercury, if present in fish, should at least to some extent be present as a methylthio derivative. The Hg-S bond is stronger than Hg-NH or Hg-OH bonds. Accordingly, the former bond would prevent the formation of the latter types of bonds in the presence of ammonium hydroxide solution and increase the solubility in water. Any methylthio group present should therefore be removed before the extraction with alkali. 

Map of Minimata in Japan, showing the Hyakken Harbor and Minimata River into which the methylmercury was discharged... 

A large number of articles survey the ch stry, biochemistry, and toxicology of methylmercury and other alkyl-metal compounds. Four deal specifically with aspects of Minimata disease, - one with the role of methanogenic bacteria in the alkylation of arsenic and mercury, and one on the general microbial alkylation of metals. ... 

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