Critical review of analytical methods for determination of inorganic mercury and methylmercury compounds

This review describes determinations of mercury compounds under three categories: total mercury; separate determinations of inorganic mercury(II) and organomercury compounds by selective reduction; and speciation of inorganic mercury(II), monomethylmercury cation, and dimethylmercury. Topics described for each category include sample treatment, separation, detection, and limit of detection. Finally, we note that most methods would not detect dimethylmercury if it were present.