Abstract
Seafood consumption is the primary source of mercury (Hg) exposure, particularly among coastal populations. Hg exposure during pregnancy has been associated with cognitive impairment, as well as decrements in memory, attention, fine motor skills, and other markers of delayed neurodevelopment, although results are conflicting. High Hg hair concentrations in persons from coastal Florida, USA, have been previously reported. The purpose of the current study was to determine the concentrations of total Hg (THg) in the hair of pregnant women from this area and to assess the relationships between THg concentration, knowledge of the risks of mercury exposure, and dietary patterns among participants. Participants (n = 229) were recruited at prenatal clinics. Their mean total hair Hg concentration was 0.31 + 0.54 µg/g, lower or similar to US data for women of child-bearing age. Hair THg concentration was associated with consumption of locally caught fish and all seafood, a higher level of education, and first pregnancy. Eighty-five percent of women were aware of the risks of mercury exposure during pregnancy; over half reported a decrease in seafood consumption during pregnancy. Awareness of Hg in fish was marginally associated with lower hair THg concentration (p = 0.06) but reduction in seafood consumption during pregnancy was not.
Highlights
Mercury (Hg) contamination of the marine environment is an important public health concern globally [1]
The objective of the current study was to assess mercury concentrations in the hair of pregnant women living in coastal Florida and to determine the relationships between hair total Hg (THg) concentrations, fish consumption, sources of seafood, knowledge of the risks of mercury exposure, and seafood consumption during pregnancy
In a population-based cohort study of pregnant women in Massachusetts [17], the mean hair mercury concentration was 0.45 μg/g; a majority of participants reported consuming more than two fish servings weekly, higher seafood consumption than reported in the current study
Summary
Mercury (Hg) contamination of the marine environment is an important public health concern globally [1]. Inorganic mercury is released into the atmosphere from a variety of industrial activities and subsequently deposited into aquatic and marine ecosystems through rainfall and by dry deposition [2]. Inorganic Hg is converted into methylmercury (MeHg) by sulfate-reducing anerobic bacteria in sediments. MeHg is biomagnified through trophic levels in the marine food web and accumulates in apex predators like dolphins and sharks [3]. Human exposure to mercury occurs primarily through the diet by consumption of seafood, large predatory fish such as swordfish, shark, and albacore tuna [4]. Res. Public Health 2019, 16, 4903; doi:10.3390/ijerph16244903 www.mdpi.com/journal/ijerph
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