Methyl Mercury and Inorganic Mercury in Swedish Pregnant Women and in Cord Blood: Influence of Fish Consumption

The Scientific Paper:

K.A. Bjornberg, M.Vahter, K. Petersson-Grawe, A. Glynn, S. Cnattingius, P. O. Darnerud, S. Atuma, M. Aune, W. Becker, and M. Berglund. Environmental Health Perspectives (EHP). Vol. 111, No. 4, pp. 637-640. 2003.

Review This Scientific Paper’s Abstract:
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?cmd=Retrieve&db=
PubMed&list_uids=12676628&dopt=Abstract

The Purpose of this Study:
To learn if methylmercury exposure in pregnant Swedish women and their unborn children is related to the mothers eating fish.

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

• This peer-reviewed, scientific paper was published in 2003.
• These scientists studied methylmercury exposure in pregnant Swedish women (looking at all of the mercury in their hair) and in their unborn children (looking at only the methylmercury in the umbilical cord blood) in relation to the amounts of fish eaten by the mother while pregnant.
• On average, these Swedish women consumed all types of fish almost seven times per month (from 0 to 25 times per month) during the year they became pregnant.
• These scientists also measured inorganic mercury and selenium in the umbilical cord blood.
• These Swedish women were recruited at antenatal care clinics in late pregnancy to participate in an exposure study of environmental pollutants that included mercury.
• The fish eaten by these Swedish women was evaluated using certain questionnaires that included detailed questions about eating fish.
• These Swedish women reported eating less freshwater fish—species that might contain high levels of methylmercury —during than before pregnancy.
• The total mercury in the mothers’ hair is significantly associated with the levels of methylmercury in the umbilical cord blood

A Bottom Line:

• Both total mercury in the mother’s hair and the methylmercury in the umbilical cord blood increased with the increased eating of seafood.
• These scientists found a weak relationship between selenium and methylmercury in the umbilical cord blood, but no relationship with eating fish.
• One type of mercury (inorganic mercury) increased significantly with an increasing number of a certain type of dental fillings in the mothers’ teeth.

Find This Scientific Paper for Your Review:
Methyl Mercury and Inorganic Mercury in Swedish Pregnant Women and in Cord Blood: Influence of Fish Consumption. Environmental Health Perspectives (EHP). Vol. 111, No. 4, pp. 637-640. 2003.