Mercury levels in pregnant women, children, and seafood from Mexico City.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Mercury is a global contaminant of concern though little is known about exposures in México.

Objectives

To characterize mercury levels in pregnant women, children, and commonly consumed seafood samples.

Methods

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.

Results

Maternal blood mercury levels correlated across three trimesters and averaged 3.4 μg/L. Cord blood mercury averaged 4.7 μg/L and correlated with maternal blood from trimester 3 (but not trimeste

SUBMITTER: Basu N 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC4262596 | biostudies-literature | 2014 Nov

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature