Volatilization of mercuric chloride by mercury-resistant plasmid-bearing strains of Escherichia coli, Staphylococcus aureus, and Pseudomonas aeruginosa.

Several bacterial strains carrying genes determining mercury resistance on naturally occurring plasmids will convert 10(-5)m Hg(2+) (chloride) to a form of mercury which is volatile and soluble in organic solvents. The volatilization activity is induced by exposure to HgCl(2).