MERCURY CONTAMINATION STANDARDS 249 



processes of marine organisms at concentrations as low as 0.2 and 

 1.0 )Ug/liter. In addition to the deleterious effects previously listed on 

 behavior, growth, reproduction, histology, respiration, and enzyme 

 production, there are a variety of mercury -related effects that are 

 imperfectly understood. These include increased mucous production 

 in fish (Gardner, 1975; Lask et al., 1971); initiation of diuresis in 

 amphipods (Lockwood and Inman, 1975); a rise in urine nitrogen 

 levels of mercury-poisoned crabs (Corner, 1959); altered osmoregula- 

 tory ability of estuarine isopods (Jones, 1975); and negative 

 phototaxy and increased operculate movements of teleosts (Klaunig, 

 Koepp, and McCormick, 1975). Increased efficiency of mercury 

 transport mechanisms has also been noted in crabs exposed at 

 comparatively high temperatures (Vernberg and O'Hara, 1972). 



Uptake, Retention, and Translocation 



Rapid accumulation of mercury, especially organomercury com- 

 pounds, by various species of marine biota, primarily teleosts and 

 molluscs, is well documented (Bligh, 1972; Boulton and Hetling, 

 1972; Cunningham and Tripp, 1975a; 1975b; Davies, 1974; Fang, 

 1973; Fowler, Wolfe, and Hettler, 1975; Hannerz, 1968; Hasselrot, 

 1968; Hibiya and Oguri, 1961; Johnels et al., 1967; Kramer and 

 Neidhart, 1975; Lask et al., 1971; Laumond et al., 1973; MacLeod 

 and Pessah, 1973; McKone et al., 1971; Middaugh and Rose, 1974; 

 Nelson et al., 1976; Olson, Bergman, and Fromm, 1973; Pentreath, 

 1976a; 1976b; Rucker and Amend, 1969). Bioaccumulation of 

 mercury and its compounds from seawater can be modified by many 

 factors. These include chemical form of mercury administered 

 (Cunningham and Tripp, 1975a; Hannerz, 1968; Kramer and 

 Neidhart, 1975; Pentreath, 1976a; 1976b); mode of administration 

 (Jarvenpaa, Tillander, and Miettinen, 1970); presence of complexing 

 agents in medium (Kramer and Neidhart, 1975); initial concentration 

 (Kramer and Neidhart, 1975; Sick and Windom, 1975); exposure 

 time (Sick and Windom, 1975); presence of selenium (Fowler and 

 Benayoun, 1976); salinity of medium (Vernberg, DeCoursey, and 

 O'Hara, 1974); water temperature (Cunningham and Tripp, 1975b; 

 Vernberg, DeCoursey, and O'Hara, 1974); age of organism (Beckett 

 and Freeman, 1974; Cunningham and Tripp, 1975b; Glooschenko, 

 1969; Hannerz, 1968); biological surface area (Sick and Windom, 

 1975); variability in detoxication mechanisms (Davies, 1976); sexual 

 condition (Cunningham and Tripp, 1975b); tissue specificity (Cun- 

 ningham and Tripp, 1975a; Fowler, Wolfe, and Hettler, 1975; 

 Hannerz, 1968; Pentreath, 1976a; 1976b; Vernberg, DeCoursey, and 

 O'Hara, 1974); presence of mercury -resistant strains of bacteria 



