Mercury & Methylmercury

Toxic by nature, mercury and methylmercury testing is critical to most monitoring programs.

Mercury is a naturally occurring element that has many useful industrial applications. It is favoured due to its ability to conduct electricity and heat, to bond with other materials, to facilitate the extraction of gold from ore and for its unique physical expansion properties, that can make products more durable.

The mining industry has a longstanding relationship with this metal because of its excellent ability to form an amalgam with gold and aid with extraction. This benefit can quickly turn into a liability if not carefully managed. At certain concentrations, mercury is toxic to humans, plants and animals. It also converts readily to a more hazardous form called methylmercury through the action of microbes, including sulphate-reducing and iron-reducing bacteria.

Methylmercury is significantly more toxic to biological systems than elemental mercury. The physical properties of methylmercury allow it to bioaccumulate and to transport freely throughout the body, including absorption into the gut, blood and across the blood-brain barrier.

Testmark is a leader in the provision of testing for mercury and methylmercury – whether in water, soil or biota. We also provide associated testing for sulphate-reducing and iron-reducing bacteria, giving you a better understanding of your unique application.

TESTING CAPABILITIES

  • 1,4-Dioxane
  • Acetone/Hexane
  • Acid Extractables
  • BTEX
  • Carbamate Pesticides
  • Chlorobenzene
  • DGA (Dissolved Gas Analysis)
  • Diquat Paraquat
  • F1
  • F2-F4
  • F4G
  • Formaldehyde
  • Freons
  • GEOSMIN/MIB
  • Glycol
  • Glyphosate
  • Haloacetic Acids
  • Hi Vol: PAH PUF Sampler
  • MCPA
  • MEA
  • MEK
  • MEK
  • Methane
  • Methanol
  • Morpholine
  • NDMA
  • Nonyl Phenols
  • NTA
  • OCP
  • OPP
  • Otto Fuel
  • Oxalic Acid
  • PAH
  • Passive TD Tube: Benzene
  • PCBs
  • PFAS
  • Phenoxy Herb
  • Phthalate
  • RFA
  • Schedule 24
  • Sorbent Tube: Formaldehyde
  • Sorbent Tube: Otto Fuel
  • SVOC
  • TD Tube: VOC
  • THM
  • Tolytriazole
  • Toxaphene
  • VOC
  • Volatile Organic/Fatty Acids
  • 1,4-Dioxane
  • Acetone/Hexane
  • Acid Extractables
  • BTEX
  • Carbamate Pesticides
  • Chlorobenzene
  • DGA (Dissolved Gas Analysis)
  • Diquat Paraquat
  • F1
  • F2-F4
  • F4G
  • Formaldehyde
  • Freons
  • GEOSMIN/MIB
  • Glycol
  • Glyphosate
  • Haloacetic Acids
  • Hi Vol: PAH PUF Sampler
  • MCPA
  • MEA
  • MEK
  • Methane
  • Methanol
  • Morpholine
  • NDMA
  • Nonyl Phenols
  • NTA
  • OCP
  • OPP
  • Otto Fuel
  • Oxalic Acid
  • PAH
  • Passive TD Tube: Benzene
  • PCBs
  • PFAS
  • Phenoxy Herb
  • Phthalate
  • RFA
  • Schedule 24
  • Sorbent Tube: Formaldehyde
  • Sorbent Tube: Otto Fuel
  • SVOC
  • TD Tube: VOC
  • THM
  • Tolytriazole
  • Toxaphene
  • VOC
  • Volatile Organic/Fatty Acids
  • % Lipids
  • % Solids
  • % Total Solids
  • Acetate in Water
  • Acidity
  • Air Filter Cassette: Metals
  • Air Filter Cassette: PM10
  • Air Filter Cassette: PM2.5
  • Air Filter Cassette: TSP
  • Alk
  • Ammonia
  • Ammonia – Unionized
  • Ammonia (Low Level)
  • Anions
  • BOD
  • Boron (Hot Water Extractable)
  • Bromate
  • Bulk Density of Soils
  • C/N Ratio in Soil
  • Calorific Value
  • Carbon Disulphide
  • Carbonate and Bi-Carbonate
  • CBOD
  • Chlorine
  • Chlorine – Residual
  • Chlorophyll A
  • CN
  • COD
  • Colour (True or Apparent)
  • Cond
  • CrIII
  • CrVI
  • Cyanate
  • Cyanide – Free
  • Cyanide – Total
  • Cyanide – WAD
  • DIC
  • DIC – Field Filtered
  • Dissolved Reactive Phosphorus
  • DO
  • DOC
  • DOC – Field Filtered
  • DOP
  • DTP
  • DTP – Field Filtered
  • Dustfall (MECP Method)
  • EMF
  • Fe2Fe3
  • Fixed Solids
  • Fixed Suspended Solids
  • FOC
  • Grain Size – 63 micron
  • Grain Size – 75 micron
  • Grain Size – Full Sieves with hydrometry
  • Grain Size – Sieves (no hydrometry)
  • Hardness
  • Hi Vol: Metals
  • Hi Vol: PM10
  • Hi Vol: PM2.5
  • Hi Vol: TSP
  • Hydroxide
  • Ignitability
  • Ion Balance
  • Loss on Ignition
  • Mercury CV
  • Mercury CV – Field Filtered
  • Mercury CV – Lab Filtered
  • Metal Oxides (Calc)
  • Metals
  • Metals – Field Filtered
  • Metals – Gold only
  • Metals – Lab Filtered
  • Metals – Regular (Not Digested)
  • Metals – Total (Digested)
  • Methylmercury
  • Methylmercury – Field Filtered
  • Methylmercury – Lab Filtered
  • Moisture
  • NTA
  • O&G
  • Reg. 243 – Lead
  • Olsen Phosphorus
  • OP
  • Organic Nitrogen
  • Passive Sampler: Mercury
  • Passive Sampler: NO2
  • Passive Sampler: SO2
  • Percent Ash
  • pH
  • pH – Saturation pH
  • Phenols
  • Reactive Silica
  • Redox Potential
  • Resistivity
  • SAR
  • Schedule 15.1 – Distribution (Lead, Alk)
  • Schedule 15.1 – Plumbing (Lead)
  • Schedule 23
  • Silica
  • Sorbent Tube: Carbon Disulphide
  • Specific Gravity
  • Sulfamate
  • Sulphide
  • Sulphite
  • Sulphur
  • Tannins and Lignins
  • TDS
  • Thiocyanate
  • TIC
  • TKN
  • TOC
  • Total Carbon
  • Total Nitrogen
  • Total Reduced Sulfur Comounds (NCASI)
  • Total Solids
  • TP
  • TP – Low Level
  • TSS
  • Turb
  • UV Trans/Absorb
  • VS
  • VSS
  • Autoclave Testing
  • Background coliforms
  • E. Coli
  • Fecal coliform
  • Fecal streptococcus
  • HPC
  • Iron Reducing Bacteria
  • Legionella
  • Microcystin
  • Sulphate Reducing Bacteria
  • Total Coliform
  • 100% Concentration Daphnia Magna
  • 100% Concentration Rainbow Trout
  • LC50 – Daphnia Magna
  • LC50 Rainbow Trout
  • pH Stabilization 100% Conc RBT
  • pH Stabilization LC50 RBT
  • Acid #
  • AGE Test
  • Aniline Point
  • CCD
  • Color
  • Corrosive Sulfur
  • DBDS
  • Degree Polymerization
  • Dielectric (D1816)
  • Dielectric (D877)
  • Dissolved Gas Analysis
  • Flashpoint
  • Furans
  • Inhibitor
  • Interfacial Tension
  • Karl Fischer
  • Metals
  • PCB
  • Pour Point
  • Power Factor
  • Relative Density
  • Resistivity
  • Sediment/Sludge
  • Strong Acid #
  • Total Halogens
  • Viscosity (0 Deg. C)
  • Viscosity (100 Deg. C)
  • Viscosity (40 Deg. C)
  • Gross Alpha Beta
  • Gross Alpha Beta + Tritium
  • Ra226