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Blood total mercury and methylmercury among pregnant mothers in Charleston, South Carolina, USA

Journal of Exposure Science & Environmental Epidemiology volume 28, pages 494–504 (2018)Cite this article

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.

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Acknowledgements

The authors wish to thank the study coordinators, including Judy Shary and Martha Murphy, who oversaw participant recruitment and data collection. The content is solely the responsibility of the authors and does not necessarily represent the official views of the study sponsors. The study sponsors did not play a role in the study design, in the collection, analysis, and interpretation of data, in the writing of the report, or in the decision to submit the paper for publication.

Funding

This study was supported in part by grants to S. Rothenberg from the U.S. National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences (R21 ES026412), the U.S. National Institute of Health Loan Replacement Program (L30 ES023165), and the University of South Carolina Office of Research (Aspire-1). This study was also supported in part by a grant to C. Wagner from the W.K. Kellogg Foundation.

Author information

Author notes

  1. Sarah E. Rothenberg

    Present address: School of Biological and Population Health Sciences, Oregon State University, Corvallis, OR, USA

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Environmental Health Sciences, University of South Carolina, Columbia, SC, USA

    Alexis Donohue & Sarah E. Rothenberg

  2. Department of Pediatrics, Division of Neonatology, Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, SC, USA

    Carol L. Wagner

  3. Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, University of South Carolina, Columbia, SC, USA

    James B. Burch

  4. WJB Dorn, Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Columbia, SC, USA

    James B. Burch

Authors
  1. Alexis Donohue
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  2. Carol L. Wagner
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  4. Sarah E. Rothenberg
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Sarah E. Rothenberg.

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Donohue, A., Wagner, C.L., Burch, J.B. et al. Blood total mercury and methylmercury among pregnant mothers in Charleston, South Carolina, USA. J Expo Sci Environ Epidemiol 28, 494–504 (2018). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41370-018-0033-1

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