Toxicity of phenyl-mercuric lactate for fish

Phenyl-mercuric lactate is included in the pulp processing reagents by some paper mills to eliminate slime formation in the pulp. Small quantities of this chemical are added to the wet pulp in the beaters, particularly for the bactericidal action against Aerobacter aerogenes. Subsequently the mecurial is carried away in the wash waters. However, as the highly poisonous nature of many compounds of mercury is well known, questions have been raised concerning the pollution hazards created by phenyl-mercuric lactate in streams receiving effluents from mills using this substance.