Effects of mercury exposure on fetal body burden and its association with infant growth

• Published in: Environmental research Vol. 217; p. 114780
• Main Authors: Lee, Seungho, Kim, Jin Hee, Moon, Hyo-Bang, Park, Jeongim, Choi, Guyuyeon, Kim, Sungkyoon
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Netherlands Elsevier Inc 15.01.2023
• Subjects: Animals; blood; blood groups; Body Burden; body mass index; Female; Fetal Blood - chemistry; fish consumption; Growth; Humans; infant growth; Maternal Exposure; Mercury; Mercury - analysis; methylmercury compounds; Methylmercury Compounds - toxicity; neonates; nutrition information; Obesogen; Parturition; pharmacokinetics; Physiologically-based pharmacokinetic model; Pregnancy; Pregnant Women; statistical models; Obesogen; Body burden; Growth; Mercury; Physiologically-based pharmacokinetic model
• ISSN: 0013-9351; 1096-0953; 1096-0953
• DOI: 10.1016/j.envres.2022.114780

Several studies have been conducted among South Korean to investigate effects of high blood mercury (Hg) levels. In this study fetal body burden of Hg in 344 pregnant women were estimated using a physiologically-based pharmacokinetic model (PBPK) and its associative effects on the growth of infants were analyzed. The association between cord blood Hg and growth variables at birth was analyzed based on parameters such as the sex of the newborn, living area, maternal age group, gestation day, maternal body mass index . We investigated the effects of Hg on infant growth through follow-ups, using a non-linear mixed model. The mean Hg levels in maternal and cord blood were 4.47 μg/L and 7.35 μg/L, respectively. Among the subjects, the corresponding fetal body burden for Methylmercury ranged between 26.3-86.9 mg. Cord blood Hg levels positively correlated with length at birth. Furthermore, the high cord blood group showed greater growth rates compared to the low cord blood group. Therefore, we suggest that pregnant women should make efforts to mitigate exposures to Hg, specifically from diet. Further research is suggested to investigate the relationship between the follow-up growth of the infants and Hg levels, considering fish consumption, diet information, and other environmental pollutants. •Mercury is suspected to have obesogenic property.•Mercury levels were analyzed among the mother/infant pairs.•The mean of maternal blood mercury and cord blood mercury was 4.47, and 7.35 μg/L.•The fetal body burden for methylmercury was ranged from 26.3 to 86.9 mg.•The high cord blood group showed the rapid growth rates.