Alexis Donohue1, Carol L Wagner2, James B Burch3,4, Sarah E Rothenberg5,6. 1. Department of Environmental Health Sciences, University of South Carolina, Columbia, SC, USA. 2. Department of Pediatrics, Division of Neonatology, Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, SC, USA. 3. Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, University of South Carolina, Columbia, SC, USA. 4. WJB Dorn, Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Columbia, SC, USA. 5. Department of Environmental Health Sciences, University of South Carolina, Columbia, SC, USA. sarah.rothenberg@oregonstate.edu. 6. School of Biological and Population Health Sciences, Oregon State University, Corvallis, OR, USA. sarah.rothenberg@oregonstate.edu.
Abstract
BACKGROUND: Maternal blood total mercury (THg) is a biomarker for prenatal methylmercury (MeHg) exposure. Few studies have quantified both blood THg and MeHg during pregnancy, and few studies have reported longitudinal trends. OBJECTIVES: We analyzed blood THg and MeHg in a cohort of pregnant mothers in Charleston, South Carolina (n = 83), and investigated whether blood THg or MeHg changed between early and late gestation. METHODS: THg and MeHg were analyzed in blood samples from early (12 ± 1.7 weeks) and late (35 ± 2.2 weeks) gestation. RESULTS: Blood %MeHg (of THg) averaged 63% (range: 10-114%) and 61% (range: 12-117%) during early and late gestation, respectively. In unadjusted analyses, blood MeHg decreased from early to late pregnancy (paired t-test, p = 0.04), while THg did not change (paired t-test, p = 0.34). When blood MeHg was normalized by the hematocrit, this decrease was no longer statistically significant (paired t-test, p = 0.09). CONCLUSIONS: In unadjusted analyses, blood MeHg, but not THg, decreased significantly between early and late gestation; this decrease was due in part to hemodilution. Percent MeHg (of THg) varied by up to one order of magnitude. Results highlight the importance of Hg speciation in maternal blood samples to assess prenatal MeHg exposure.
BACKGROUND: Maternal blood total mercury (THg) is a biomarker for prenatal methylmercury (MeHg) exposure. Few studies have quantified both blood THg and MeHg during pregnancy, and few studies have reported longitudinal trends. OBJECTIVES: We analyzed blood THg and MeHg in a cohort of pregnant mothers in Charleston, South Carolina (n = 83), and investigated whether blood THg or MeHg changed between early and late gestation. METHODS:THg and MeHg were analyzed in blood samples from early (12 ± 1.7 weeks) and late (35 ± 2.2 weeks) gestation. RESULTS: Blood %MeHg (of THg) averaged 63% (range: 10-114%) and 61% (range: 12-117%) during early and late gestation, respectively. In unadjusted analyses, blood MeHg decreased from early to late pregnancy (paired t-test, p = 0.04), while THg did not change (paired t-test, p = 0.34). When blood MeHg was normalized by the hematocrit, this decrease was no longer statistically significant (paired t-test, p = 0.09). CONCLUSIONS: In unadjusted analyses, blood MeHg, but not THg, decreased significantly between early and late gestation; this decrease was due in part to hemodilution. Percent MeHg (of THg) varied by up to one order of magnitude. Results highlight the importance of Hg speciation in maternal blood samples to assess prenatal MeHg exposure.
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