Unveiling the hidden threat: Molecular, cellular and behavioral effects of dietborne inorganic mercury and methylmercury in Dreissena polymorpha.

Methylmercury (MeHg) bioaccumulation in food webs has been recognized as a significant health risk for over 50 years, yet most studies focus on high concentrations of waterborne inorganic mercury (IHg). This study investigates the effects of dietborne mercury (Hg) exposure at environmentally realistic IHg and MeHg levels on a freshwater food chain. Freshwater mussels, Dreissena polymorpha, were fed with microalgae previously contaminated with 2 and 20 fg IHg or MeHg per cell for 4 d.