New Research Finds that Phytoplankton Could Help Reduce Mercury Pollution Through Uptake of Thiols
Recent research has uncovered an interesting new way in which phytoplankton, the microscopic organisms that form the basis of the ocean food chain, are able to uptake mercury from the environment. By using thiols, small molecules containing sulfur, the phytoplankton are able to grab onto mercury molecules and transfer them into their cells. This process, known as thiol-mediated mercury uptake, could potentially be used to reduce the amount of mercury pollution in the ocean. This finding opens up a new avenue of research into phytoplankton’s role in the global mercury cycle.
source: Phys.org