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Blood total mercury and methylmercury among pregnant mothers in Charleston, South Carolina, USA.

ABSTRACT: BACKGROUND:Maternal blood total mercury (THg) is a biomarker for prenatal methylmercury (MeHg) exposure. Few studies have quantified both blood THg and MeHg during pregnancy, and few studies have reported longitudinal trends. OBJECTIVES:We analyzed blood THg and MeHg in a cohort of pregnant mothers in Charleston, South Carolina (n?=?83), and investigated whether blood THg or MeHg changed between early and late gestation. METHODS:THg and MeHg were analyzed in blood samples from early (12?±?1.7 weeks) and late (35?±?2.2 weeks) gestation. RESULTS:Blood %MeHg (of THg) averaged 63% (range: 10-114%) and 61% (range: 12-117%) during early and late gestation, respectively. In unadjusted analyses, blood MeHg decreased from early to late pregnancy (paired t-test, p?=?0.04), while THg did not change (paired t-test, p?=?0.34). When blood MeHg was normalized by the hematocrit, this decrease was no longer statistically significant (paired t-test, p?=?0.09). CONCLUSIONS:In unadjusted analyses, blood MeHg, but not THg, decreased significantly between early and late gestation; this decrease was due in part to hemodilution. Percent MeHg (of THg) varied by up to one order of magnitude. Results highlight the importance of Hg speciation in maternal blood samples to assess prenatal MeHg exposure.

SUBMITTER: Donohue A

PROVIDER: S-EPMC7425126 | biostudies-literature | 2018 Sep

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature

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Blood total mercury and methylmercury among pregnant mothers in Charleston, South Carolina, USA.

Donohue Alexis A Wagner Carol L CL Burch James B JB Rothenberg Sarah E SE

Journal of exposure science & environmental epidemiology 20180419 5

<h4>Background</h4>Maternal blood total mercury (THg) is a biomarker for prenatal methylmercury (MeHg) exposure. Few studies have quantified both blood THg and MeHg during pregnancy, and few studies have reported longitudinal trends.<h4>Objectives</h4>We analyzed blood THg and MeHg in a cohort of pregnant mothers in Charleston, South Carolina (n = 83), and investigated whether blood THg or MeHg changed between early and late gestation.<h4>Methods</h4>THg and MeHg were analyzed in blood samples f ...[more]

PMID: 29670220

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Project description:BackgroundMercury 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.MethodsTo 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.ResultsTerm 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.ConclusionsTo 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.

Dataset Information

Blood total mercury and methylmercury among pregnant mothers in Charleston, South Carolina, USA.

Publications

Blood total mercury and methylmercury among pregnant mothers in Charleston, South Carolina, USA.

Similar Datasets

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