Dataset Information

Mercury in fish and adverse reproductive outcomes: results from South Carolina.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Mercury is a metal with widespread distribution in aquatic ecosystems and significant neurodevelopmental toxicity in humans. Fish biomonitoring for total mercury has been conducted in South Carolina (SC) since 1976, and consumption advisories have been posted for many SC waterways. However, there is limited information on the potential reproductive impacts of mercury due to recreational or subsistence fish consumption.

Methods

To address this issue, geocoded residential locations for live births from the Vital Statistics Registry (1995-2005, N = 362,625) were linked with spatially interpolated total mercury concentrations in fish to estimate potential mercury exposure from consumption of locally caught fish. Generalized estimating equations were used to test the hypothesis that risk of low birth weight (LBW, <2,500 grams) or preterm birth (PTB, < 37 weeks clinical gestation) was greater among women living in areas with elevated total mercury in fish, after adjustment for confounding. Separate analyses estimated term LBW and PTB risks using residential proximity to rivers with fish consumption advisories to characterize exposure.

Results

Term LBW was more likely among women residing in areas in the upper quartile of predicted total mercury in fish (odds ratio [OR]?= 1.04; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.00-1.09) or within 8 kilometers of a river with a 'do not eat' fish advisory (1.05; 1.00-1.11) compared to the lowest quartile, or rivers without fish consumption restrictions, respectively. When stratified by race, risks for term LBW or PTB were 10-18% more likely among African-American (AA) mothers living in areas with the highest total fish mercury concentrations.

Conclusions

To our knowledge, this is the first study to examine the relationship between fish total mercury concentrations and adverse reproductive outcomes in a large population-based sample that included AA women. The ecologic nature of exposure assessment in this study precludes causal inference. However, the results suggest a need for more detailed investigations to characterize patterns of local fish consumption and potential dose-response relationships between mercury exposure and adverse reproductive outcomes, particularly among AA mothers.

SUBMITTER: Burch JB

PROVIDER: S-EPMC4154616 | biostudies-literature | 2014 Aug

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature

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Publications

Mercury in fish and adverse reproductive outcomes: results from South Carolina.

Burch James B JB Wagner Robb Sara S Puett Robin R Cai Bo B Wilkerson Rebecca R Karmaus Wilfried W Vena John J Svendsen Erik E

International journal of health geographics 20140815

<h4>Background</h4>Mercury is a metal with widespread distribution in aquatic ecosystems and significant neurodevelopmental toxicity in humans. Fish biomonitoring for total mercury has been conducted in South Carolina (SC) since 1976, and consumption advisories have been posted for many SC waterways. However, there is limited information on the potential reproductive impacts of mercury due to recreational or subsistence fish consumption.<h4>Methods</h4>To address this issue, geocoded residential ...[more]

PMID: 25127892

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Project description:Cyclooxygenase (COX) inhibition is of concern in fish because COX inhibitors (e.g., ibuprofen) are ubiquitous in aquatic systems/fish tissues, and can disrupt synthesis of prostaglandins that modulate a variety of essential biological functions including reproduction. Transcriptomic data and publicly available high throughput toxicity data were utilized to develop putative adverse outcome pathways (AOPs) for molecular initiating event (MIE) of COX inhibition. Effects of a waterborne exposure to indomethacin (IN; 100 Âµg/L), ibuprofen (IB; 200 Âµg/L) and celecoxib (CX; 20 Âµg/L) on liver metabolome and ovarian gene expression (using oligonucleotide microarrays) in sexually mature fathead minnows were examined. Metabolomic profiles of IN, IB and CX were not significantly different from control or one another. Exposure to IB and CX resulted in differential expression of comparable numbers of genes (IB = 433, CX= 545). In contrast, 2558 genes were differentially expressed in IN-treated fish. Functional analyses (canonical pathway and gene set enrichment) indicated extensive effects of IN on prostaglandin synthesis pathway, oocyte meiosis and several other processes consistent with physiological roles of prostaglandins. Transcriptomic data was congruent with apical endpoint data - IN reduced plasma prostaglandin F2 alpha concentrations, and ovarian COX activity, whereas IB and CX did not. Putative AOPs pathways for COX inhibition (MIE) leading to reproductive failure (adverse outcome) via reduction of: 1) ovulation, 2) reproductive behaviors mediated by exogenous and endogenous prostaglandins, and 3) oocyte maturation were developed. Adult fathead minnow were exposed to either 100 Âµg/L indomethacin, 200 Âµg/L ibuprofen, 20 Âµg/L celecoxib or UV-treated Lake Superior (control) water for 96 hours. After exposure, microarray analyses were conducted using the female gonads (n=7-8 per treatment) and metabolomic analyses were conducted using the livers of all the exposed fish.

Dataset Information

Mercury in fish and adverse reproductive outcomes: results from South Carolina.

Background

Methods

Results

Conclusions

Publications

Mercury in fish and adverse reproductive outcomes: results from South Carolina.

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