~ METHY~  prefix from gr
~ METHYL  for METHY   = AROMA OF WINE and
                 HYLA   WOOD
~ METHYLMERCURY  biol> METHYL refers to
                       ONE CARBON MOLECULES
  WIDELY UTILIZED AS BUILDING BLOCKS IN THE
  SYNTHESIS OF VARIOUS COMPOUNDS INCLUDING DNA
  biol> METHYLMERCURY IS A INCREASINGLY COMMON
        POISON RESULTING FROM THE TRANSFORMATION OF
  INORGANIC MERCURY RELEASED BY
  ENERGY CONSUMING PLANTS PARTICULARLY THOSE USING
  MINERAL COAL WHICH IS METABOLIZED BY VARIOUS
  MICROORGANISMS INTO METHYLMERCURY WHICH IS
  INCREASINGLY CONCENTRATED BY PREDATORY FISH
  THIS MENACE TO HUMAN HEALTH HAS REACHED
  EPIDEMIC AND SERIOUS LEVELS
  med> CAUSE OF NERVOUS SYSTEM DAMAGE PARTICULARLY IN
       THE UNBORN AND CHILDREN WHO ARE MUCH MORE SENSITIVE
  sc>  METHYL ALCOHOL or WOOD ALCOHOL
       note METHYLATE etc
  see> MERCURY