This study investigated the level of mercury in hair samples of pregnant women and newborns living in marshes. Hair mercury concentration, as an indicator of mercury body load, was studied in 30 samples of indigenous ...This study investigated the level of mercury in hair samples of pregnant women and newborns living in marshes. Hair mercury concentration, as an indicator of mercury body load, was studied in 30 samples of indigenous women and newborns to assess the association between fish consumption and specific characteristics that can influence exposure. In January 2013, 40 pregnant women were invited to participate. An interview was administered and a questionnaire was used to collect information about age, body weight, height, fish （fresh） consumption, pregnancy stage, residence duration, education level, family income and number of dental amalgam fillings. The results showed that for hair total Hg concentration was 6.47 p.g/g （6.47 ~ 0.71 pg/g）. About 5.9% of mothers had hair total Hg levels in excess of 14 ~tg/g. Maternal hair mercury was above the threshold level of WHO （World Health Organization） （5 pg/g）. As expected, there was a clear increase in hair Hg with reported fresh fish consumption （p = 0.08）. The highest mean in a group who consumed fish several times per week was 5.93 lag/g. Moreover, a significant effect of age and residential time on Hg in women＇s hair was found such as the older women.展开更多
文摘This study investigated the level of mercury in hair samples of pregnant women and newborns living in marshes. Hair mercury concentration, as an indicator of mercury body load, was studied in 30 samples of indigenous women and newborns to assess the association between fish consumption and specific characteristics that can influence exposure. In January 2013, 40 pregnant women were invited to participate. An interview was administered and a questionnaire was used to collect information about age, body weight, height, fish （fresh） consumption, pregnancy stage, residence duration, education level, family income and number of dental amalgam fillings. The results showed that for hair total Hg concentration was 6.47 p.g/g （6.47 ~ 0.71 pg/g）. About 5.9% of mothers had hair total Hg levels in excess of 14 ~tg/g. Maternal hair mercury was above the threshold level of WHO （World Health Organization） （5 pg/g）. As expected, there was a clear increase in hair Hg with reported fresh fish consumption （p = 0.08）. The highest mean in a group who consumed fish several times per week was 5.93 lag/g. Moreover, a significant effect of age and residential time on Hg in women＇s hair was found such as the older women.
