Effect of fish frequency consumption on serum mercury levels in pregnant mothers and their newborns

Abstract

Mercury is a ubiquitous cumulative element which is existed and contaminated in many forms; the most common route is fish intake. The purpose of this work was to study the link between the rate of fishy food consumption and serum mercury level in both pregnant mothers and cord blood of their newborns. This study consisted of 70 pregnant women and their neonates. The study samples were collected from the maternal blood and cord blood of their newborns at the delivery time. The mean of gestational age for their neonates is (36.9 ± 2.1) weeks. Detailed food frequency questionnaire was taken to evaluate the frequency of fish consumption per week, and approximate frequency per month. Measurement of serum mercury level was done using inductive coupled plasma mass spectrometry.This study finds highly significant increase (P Â0.01) in serum mercury level either in maternal blood or in their newborns’ cord blood in a manner dependent on the frequency of fish consumption. High significant positive correlation (P Â0.01) has been recorded between maternal mercury level and cord blood mercury level of their newborns. Also, the frequency of fish consumption is high significantly correlated with mercury level in each of maternal blood and cord blood of their newborns (P Â0.01). Hence, the study concludes thatmercury tends to accumulate in fish food chains reaching the human beings. Frequency of fish consumption per month affects the level of mercury in mothers and their neonates.