biostudies-literatureLozano MIntramural NIH HHSNICHD NIH HHSEuropean Research CouncilNIEHS NIH HHSMedical Research CouncilNHLBI NIH HHSNINR NIH HHSNINDS NIH HHSWellcome TrustBiotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council112093https://www.ebi.ac.uk/biostudies/studies/S-EPMC10879652biostudies-literatureUnknown204(Pt B)Mercury (Hg) is a ubiquitous heavy metal that originates from both natural and anthropogenic sources and is transformed in the environment to its most toxicant form, methylmercury (MeHg). Recent studies suggest that MeHg exposure can alter epigenetic modifications during embryogenesis. In this study, we examined associations between prenatal MeHg exposure and levels of cord blood DNA methylation (DNAm) by meta-analysis in up to seven independent studies (n = 1462) as well as persistence of those relationships in blood from 7 to 8 year-old children (n = 794). In cord blood, we found limited evidence of differential DNAm at cg24184221 in MED31 (β = 2.28 × 10^-4, p-value = 5.87 × 10^-5) in relation to prenatal MeHg exposure. In child blood, we identified differential DNAm Environmental researchDNA methylation changes associated with prenatal mercury exposure: A meta-analysis of prospective cohort studies from PACE consortium.PMC10879652MC_UU_12013_2G9815508N01ES75558MC_UU_12013_1WT088806R01 HL111108MC_UU_00011/1BB/I025263/1R01 ES025531268479R01 NR013945102215/2/13/2U01 NS047537217065/Z/19/Z102215R37 HD034568MC_UU_12013_8MC_PC_15018MC_UU_12013_5Z01 ES049019MC_PC_19009BB/I025751/1MC_UU_00011/5Rifas-Shiman SHuel GPesce GRelton CKishi RVafeiadi MVrijheid MKim WJIkeda-Araki ABakulski KMBallester FGutzkow KBWon SFallin MDLozano MBroberg KAnnesi-Maesano ILlop SPark JYousefi POken EHivert MFDou JFRahman MSoler-Blasco RMiyashita CHaug LSBustamante MfalseDNA methylation changes associated with prenatal mercury exposure: A meta-analysis of prospective cohort studies from PACE consortium.Mercury (Hg) is a ubiquitous heavy metal that originates from both natural and anthropogenic sources and is transformed in the environment to its most toxicant form, methylmercury (MeHg). Recent studies suggest that MeHg exposure can alter epigenetic modifications during embryogenesis. In this study, we examined associations between prenatal MeHg exposure and levels of cord blood DNA methylation (DNAm) by meta-analysis in up to seven independent studies (n = 1462) as well as persistence of those relationships in blood from 7 to 8 year-old children (n = 794). In cord blood, we found limited evidence of differential DNAm at cg24184221 in MED31 (β = 2.28 × 10^-4, p-value = 5.87 × 10^-5) in relation to prenatal MeHg exposure. In child blood, we identified differential DNAm 2022-01-01T00:00:00Z2022 Mar2025-04-26T08:06:46.07Z2025-04-06T12:32:29.354ZS-EPMC108796523456248310.1016/j.envres.2021.112093