In order to assess the mercury exposure of pregnant and lactating women in Slovenia, levels of total mercury (THg) and methylmercury (MeHg) were determined in hair, cord blood and breast milk. In addition, the frequency of fish consumption was estimated, because fish is generally the main pathway for human exposure to MeHg. Hair samples were collected from 574 women participating in this study, while cord blood and breast milk samples were collected from 446 and 284 women, respectively. As expected, the levels of THg in hair (median (Med)=297 ng/g, 10th percentile (P10)=73 ng/g, 90th percentile (P90)=781 ng/g), cord blood (Med=1.5 ng/g, P10=0.5 ng/g, P90=4.2 ng/g) and breast milk (Med=0.2 ng/g, P10=0.06 ng/g, P90=0.6 ng/g) were low, due to low consumption of fish (X=25 g per day). A significant linear correlation was found between levels of ln THg in hair and ln THg in cord blood (r=0.87, 95% confidence interval (CI): 0.84-0.89), between levels of ln THg in hair and ln MeHg in cord blood (r=0.94, 95% CI: 0.90-0.96) and between ln THg levels in cord blood and ln THg levels in breast milk (r=0.36, 95 % CI: 0.25-0.47). Spearman’s rank correlations between the frequency of fish consumption and THg in hair (rs=0.35, 95% CI: 0.28-0.42), and between the frequency of fish consumption and THg in cord blood (rs=0.43, 95% CI: 0.36-0.51) or MeHg in cord blood (rs=0.31, 95% CI: 0.06-0.52) were weak. This could be due to the approximate information on fish consumption obtained from the questionnaires, the high variability of MeHg concentrations in fish and a relatively high proportion of inorganic mercury in the biomarkers which originates from sources other than fish. In conclusion, THg levels in cord blood, THg levels in hair and MeHg levels in cord blood are suitable biomarkers of low-level Hg exposure through fish consumption. Compared to cord blood, hair sample are easy to collect, store and analyse.
COBISS.SI-ID: 24972583
In order to understanding of the risks and benefits of consuming fish and fish products, total mercury (THg), monomethylmercury (MeHg), PCBs, Se, n-3 fatty acids (FA) and the ratio of n-6 / n-3 FAs were determined in fresh and canned fish on the Slovenian market. Furthermore mercury exposure of pregnant women was assessed by determining total mercury (THg) in hair. Based on determined MeHg, THg and PCBs levels, it can be concluded that fish available in the Slovenian market, do not represent a health risk and confirmed that fish are important source of Se and n-3 FAs.
COBISS.SI-ID: 23731239