Mercury concentrations in human placenta, umbilical cord, cord blood and amniotic fluid and their relations with body parameters of newborns

• Published in: Environmental pollution (1987) 2013-11, Vol.182, p.256-262
• Main Authors: Kozikowska, Iwona, Binkowski, Łukasz J., Szczepańska, Katarzyna, Sławska, Helena, Miszczuk, Katarzyna, Śliwińska, Magdalena, Łaciak, Tomasz, Stawarz, Robert
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Adult; Amniotic fluid; Amniotic Fluid - metabolism; Biological and medical sciences; Birth Weight; Blood; Chemical and industrial products toxicology. Toxic occupational diseases; Concentration (composition); Cord blood; Environmental Pollutants - metabolism; Environmental Protection Agency; Female; Fetal Blood - metabolism; Fluid dynamics; Fluid flow; Humans; Infant, Newborn; Male; Maternal Exposure - statistics & numerical data; Medical sciences; Mercury; Mercury (metal); Mercury - metabolism; Metals and various inorganic compounds; neonates; Placenta; Placenta - metabolism; Poland; Pollution; Pregnancy; Rope; Toxicology; Umbilical cord; Umbilical Cord - metabolism; Umbilical cords; women; Young Adult
• ISSN: 0269-7491; 1873-6424
• DOI: 10.1016/j.envpol.2013.07.030

Studies were conducted on samples taken from giving birth women (n = 40) living in Poland, representing three age groups: 19–25, 26–30 and 31–38 years old. Mercury concentrations were measured with CV-AAS in placenta, umbilical cord, cord blood and amniotic fluid. The placentas weight did not exceed the 750 g value and was heavier than 310 g. Mean values of Hg concentrations in blood, placenta and umbilical cord were similar (c.a. 9 μg/g). High levels of mercury were noted in cord blood which in 75% of all observations exceeded (up to 17 μg/L) the safe dose set by US EPA (5.8 μg/L). No statistically significant differences in medium level of Hg in all the studied tissues among age groups of women were observed. Positive correlations between Hg concentrations in placenta and umbilical cord and cord blood were revealed as well as some negative ones between mercury concentrations and pregnancy parameters. •Concentrations of mercury in cord blood exceed the safety threshold level.•Maternal age was not an influential factor of Hg concentrations in studied samples.•Positive correlations between Hg levels in different tissues were observed.•Negative correlation between Hg concentrations and pregnancy parameters were noted. Maternal age was not an influential factor of mercury concentrations in studied samples. 75% of cord blood samples exceeded the Hg threshold concentration.