Inorganic Mercury and Methylmercury in Placentas of Swedish Women

The Scientific Paper:

K. Ask, A. Akesson, M. Berglund, and M.Vahter. Environmental Health Perspectives (EHP). Vol. 110, No. 5, pp. 523-526. 2002.

Review This Scientific Paper’s Abstract:
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?cmd=Retrieve&db
=PubMed&list_uids=12003757&dopt=Citation

The Purpose of this Study:
This study attempts to relate the types of mercury found in the human placenta with the mercury found in the mother’s and the unborn infant’s blood - and to evaluate possible mercury blood level relationships with the metal selenium.

Some Background, Methods, Results, Caveats, and Other Select Points:

• This peer-reviewed, scientific paper was published in 2002.
• These scientists also related the placental levels of different types of mercury to the mother’s mercury exposure, umbilical cord blood mercury levels, and possible relationships with the metal selenium. Selenium has been shown to offer some protection against mercury poisoning both in people and in animals.
• One type of mercury found in the human placenta increased with an increasing number of certain types of dental fillings in the mother’s teeth.
• A substantial amount of mercury in the mother’s blood is believed to reach her unborn child.
• Methylmercury is transferred easily to the unborn child - and it also accumulates in the placenta.
• An average of 60% of placental mercury is methylmercury. There was usually more than twice the mercury levels in the placenta than was found in the mother’s blood.

A Bottom Line:
This study increases the understanding of mercury in its different forms in the human placenta - and how they are related to the mother’s and unborn child’s mercury exposure.

These scientists found no relationships between one type of mercury (inorganic mercury) and the metal selenium.

Find This Scientific Paper for Your Review:
Inorganic Mercury and Methylmercury in Placentas of Swedish Women. Environmental Health Perspectives (EHP). Vol. 110, No. 5, pp. 523-526. 2002.