Answers are grounded in this paper and cite their sources.
A total of 4,604 bacterial strains isolated from the sediments of Minamata Bay and nearby low-level-mercury stations (control stations) were screened for the ability to volatilize mercury from inorganic and organic mercurial compounds. The strains that volatilize mercury from several kinds of organomercurials were found only in the sediments of Minamata Bay.
No takes yet. Share an insight, caveat, or question.
Nakamura et al. (1990) studied this question.
Synapse has enriched 10 related papers. Consider them for comparative context: