Abstract: The distribution and conversion factors of soil total mercury and methylmercury in different types of wetlands in Liaohe Estuary (two sites: Sandaogou and Bijialing) were analyzed along plant natural succession to study the levels of total mercury and methylmercury and their influencing factors. The results showed that the concentration of total mercury ranged from 0.036 to 0.069 mg·kg^-1 and the concentration of methylmercury ranged from 0.77 to 2.56 μg·kg^-1 in different types of wetlands soil in Liaohe Estuary. The concentrations of total mercury and methylmercury were significantly lower in Sandaogou wetlands than in Bijialing wetlands. The concentrations of total mercury and methylmercury in surface soil gradually decreased from mudflats to Phragmites australis wetlands. The concentrations of total mercury and methylmercury gradually decreased from the surface soil layer to the deep soil layer in Ph. australis wetlands and Suaeda salsa wetlands. The concentration of total mercury showed a trend of increasedecreaseincrease along the soil profile in mudflats of Bijialing, while the concentration of methylmercury was decreasing overall. The concentration of total mercury had a significant correlation with methylmercury concentration and a positive correlation with concentrations of potassium and soluble salts.

Key words: bamboo charcoal, microbial degradation, nonylphenol, immobilization