Methylmercury Case Study

1.0 Abstract
Methylmercury is an organic metal that converted from mercury by the bacteria in sediments and caused neurotoxicity in human. The targeted organ of the methylmercury was human brain especially the astrocyte cell. The studies were conducted to understand the process of methylmercury entered the human body, damaging the astocytes and neurons, effects on prenatal period, early childhood exposure and other effects on human nervous system.

2.0 Introduction
Methylmercury is a dangerous organic heavy metal which can obtain from natural such as volcanoes and forest fire and anthropogenic sources such as burning coal and mining. It was recognized and used as a fungicide and catalyst in industrial in the beginning (Grandjean and Herz 2014).
Methylmercury was spread to the other parts of the body through the blood. Mergler et al. (2007) observed that the blood mercury level of the infant was higher than mother due to the bioaccumulation effect. Thus, this caused the neurobehavioral decrements for the exposed infants because some of the metabolisms such as the releasing of neurotransmitter, transportation of amino acids, protein synthesis and cell division of the neuronal and glial cell while development of the brain were blocked by
The studies conducted showed that methylmercury also affected the plants, animals and the environment besides than affected on human health. The main effect of methylmercury was neurotoxicity of human brain but it also showed the effects on other human systems such as endocrine system, reproductive system, digestive system, cardiovascular system and immune system. Methylmercury was proved by the researchers as a dangerous organic heavy metal therefore after understanding the mechanisms and effects of it, several solutions such as remediation by using bacteria, microalgae and genetic modified plants were done by the researchers to remove the methylmercury from the waterways and ensured this environmental problem can be