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Accepted (AM)Open Access (License Unspecified), Open
Journal article
Mercury levels in pregnant women, children, and seafood from Mexico City
Environmental research, v 135, pp 63-69
Nov 2014
PMID: 25262076
Abstract
Mercury is a global contaminant of concern though little is known about exposures in México.
To characterize mercury levels in pregnant women, children, and commonly consumed seafood samples.
Use resources of the Early Life Exposures in Mexico to Environmental Toxicants (ELEMENT) birth cohorts to measure total mercury levels in archived samples from 348 pregnant women (blood from three trimesters and cord blood), 825 offspring (blood, hair, and urine) and their mothers (hair), and 91 seafood and canned tuna samples from Mexico City.
Maternal blood mercury levels correlated across three trimesters and averaged 3.4μg/L. Cord blood mercury averaged 4.7μg/L and correlated with maternal blood from trimester 3 (but not trimesters 1 and 2). In children, blood, hair and urine mercury levels correlated and averaged 1.8μg/L, 0.6μg/g, and 0.9μg/L, respectively. Hair mercury was 0.5μg/g in mothers and correlated with child׳s hair. Mean consumption of canned tuna, fresh fish, canned sardine, and shellfish was 3.1, 2.2, 0.5, and 1.0 times per month respectively in pregnant women. Mean mercury content in 7 of 23 seafood species and 5 of 9 canned tuna brands purchased exceeded the U.S. EPA guidance value of 0.3 μg/g.
Mercury exposures in pregnant women and children from Mexico City, via biomarker studies, are generally 3–5 times greater than values reported in population surveys from the U.S., Canada, and elsewhere. In particular, mercury levels in 29–39% of the maternal participants exceeded the biomonitoring guideline associated with the U.S. EPA reference dose for mercury.
•Mercury measured in 348 pregnant women, 825 offspring, and 91 seafood from Mexico.•Exposures to organic and inorganic mercury are widespread.•Exposures are 3–5 times higher than populations surveys elsewhere.
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Details
- Title
- Mercury levels in pregnant women, children, and seafood from Mexico City
- Creators
- Niladri Basu - University of MichiganRebecca Tutino - University of MichiganZhenzhen Zhang - University of MichiganDavid E. Cantonwine - University of MichiganJaclyn M. Goodrich - University of MichiganEmily C. Somers - University of MichiganLauren Rodriguez - University of MichiganLourdes Schnaas - Division of Public Health, National Institute of Perinatology, Mexico, D.F., Mexico.Maritsa Solano - Instituto Nacional de Salud PúblicaAdriana Mercado - Instituto Nacional de Salud PúblicaKaren Peterson - University of MichiganBrisa N. Sánchez - University of MichiganMauricio Hernández-Avila - Ministry of Health, Mexico, Distrito Federal, Mexico.Howard Hu - University of MichiganMartha Maria Téllez-Rojo - Division of Statistics, Center for Evaluation Research and Surveys, National Institute of Public Health, Cuernavaca, Morelos, Mexico
- Publication Details
- Environmental research, v 135, pp 63-69
- Publisher
- Elsevier
- Resource Type
- Journal article
- Language
- English
- Academic Unit
- Epidemiology and Biostatistics
- Web of Science ID
- WOS:000346622800010
- Scopus ID
- 2-s2.0-84907811714
- Other Identifier
- 991020100191204721
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- Collaboration types
- Domestic collaboration
- International collaboration
- Web of Science research areas
- Environmental Sciences
- Public, Environmental & Occupational Health