Photomicrobial Visible Light-Induced Magnetic Mass Independent Fractionation of Mercury in a Marine Microalga

Methylmercury (MeHg), a highly neurotoxic substance, accumulates in aquatic food webs, and is enriched in odd isotopes (i.e., 199Hg and 201Hg), purportedly as a result of abiotic photodegradation in surface waters. Here, we highlight the potential role of phytoplankton in the mass independent fractionation (MIF) of MeHg in marine food-webs by providing evidence of (1) degradation of intracellular MeHg and reduction of intracellular inorganic mercury (Hg(II)) in the marine microalga, Isochrysis galbana; (2) a large, positive MIF (Δ199Hgreactant – Δ199Hgproduct ∼ 5–10‰) during intracellular degradation of MeHg in cells exposed to visible light with no UVB, consistent with the accumulation of odd isotope-enriched MeHg in marine food-webs; and (3) a negative MIF (−1‰) during intracellular reduction of Hg(II) in the presence of UVB light. If representative of the photochemical reactivity of MeHg in marine phytoplankton, our results indicate that algal cell-mediated demethylation of MeHg by visible light could ...