The amount of mercury that can actually be taken up by organisms doesn't always match the total mercury in the soil, showing that the chemical form of mercury matters more than just how much is present.

Scientific Claim

Bioavailable mercury does not correlate directly with total mercury levels in contaminated soils, indicating that speciation is critical for understanding microbial exposure.

Source Excerpt

“Notably, bioavailable Hg did not correlate directly with total Hg, underscoring the importance of speciation in microbial exposure.”

Evidence from Studies

Supporting Studies

A survey of bacterial and fungal community structure and functions in two long-term metalliferous soil habitats

Cannot Determine

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Evidence Assessment

Supported

The study measured both total and bioavailable mercury and found no direct correlation between them, with bioavailable mercury being highest in low-total-mercury soils and lowest in high-total-mercury soils.

Source Study

A survey of bacterial and fungal community structure and functions in two long-term metalliferous soil habitats

Score: 8

DOI: 10.1038/s41598-025-25944-y

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