[Chemist_Geek]

Yeah, but the Hg in thermometers is in the metallic form, not fixed in organic compounds like methyl mercury. The metallic form has a lower bioavailability and toxicity in general than the organometallic form. I cannot comment, however, on the ease of fixing Hg from metallic to organometallic form.

[general_re]

I cannot comment, however, on the ease of fixing Hg from metallic to organometallic form.

Methylation via the acetyl-CoA pathway in bacteria. Easy as pie ;)

Funny what you remember, isn't it? I haven't thought about this stuff in years ;)

[Old Professer]

Yeah, but the Hg in thermometers is in the metallic form, not fixed in organic compounds like methyl mercury. The metallic form has a lower bioavailability and toxicity in general than the organometallic form. I cannot comment, however, on the ease of fixing Hg from metallic to organometallic form. There may be sufficient risk to caution about direct association with Hg on a daily basis; Evangelista Torricelli devised the barometer and invented the necessary vacuum pump to build such a device by "playing" with Hg for years on end; he died at the ripe old age of 39.

However, natural sources of Hg are far more abundant in our waters than man-made releases, therefore a convincing argument of the folly of limited-mitigation will fall on deaf ears among the "comfortably ignorant."