Marine diet and tobacco exposure affects mercury concentrations in pregnant women (I) from Baja California Sur, Mexico.

ABSTRACT: Seafood provides essential polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA) and other nutrients to pregnant women and their fetus(es) while a diet rich in finfish can be a major pathway of monomethyl mercury (MeHg⁺) exposure. We measured total mercury concentration ([THg]) in hair samples provided by 75 women in Baja California Sur (BCS) to assess its relationship with age, parity, tobacco smoke exposure, and diet based on survey methodologies. Generalized linear models (GLM) were used to explain the possible association of the different variables with [THg] in hair. Median [THg] in hair was 1.52 µgg^-1, ranging from 0.12 to 24.19 µgg^-1 and varied significantly by segment. Approximately 72% (54/75) of those evaluated exceed 1 µgg^-1 [THg] and 8% (6/75) exceed 5

SUBMITTER: Gaxiola-Robles R 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC5304913 | biostudies-literature | 2014

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature