Yonsei Med J.  2006 Oct;47(5):626-633. 10.3349/ymj.2006.47.5.626.

The Effect of Fish Consumption on Blood Mercury Levels of Pregnant Women

• Kim EH
• Kim IK
• Kwon JY
• Kim SW
• Park YW

• KMID: 1381243
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.3349/ymj.2006.47.5.626

Abstract

In the present study, we examined the relationship between average fish consumption, as well as the type of fish consumed and levels of mercury in the blood of pregnant women. We also performed follow-up studies to determine if blood mercury levels were decreased after counseling and prenatal education. To examine these potential relationships, pregnant women were divided into two groups: a study group was educated to restrict fish intake, whereas a control group did not receive any prenatal education regarding fish consumption. We measured blood mercury level and performed follow-up studies during the third trimester to examine any differences between the two groups. Out of the 63 pregnant women who participated in our study, we performed follow- up studies with 19 pregnant women from the study group and 12 pregnant women from control group. The average initial blood mercury level of both groups was 2.94 microgram/L, with a range of 0.14 to 10.75 microgram/L. Blood mercury level in the group who ate fish more than four times per month was significantly higher than that of the group who did not consume fish (p = 0.02). In follow-up studies, blood mercury levels were decreased in the study group but slightly increased in the control group (p = 0.014). The maternal blood mercury level in late pregnancy was positively correlated with mercury levels of cord blood (r = 0.58, p = 0.047), which was almost twice the level found in maternal blood. Pregnant women who consume a large amount of fish may have high blood mercury levels. Further, cord blood mercury levels were much higher than that of maternal blood. Because the level of fish intake appears to influence blood mercury level, preconceptual education might be necessary in order decrease fish consumption.

Keyword

Mercury; fish; pregnancy

MeSH Terms

*Seafood
Pregnancy/*blood
Mercury/*blood
Humans
*Fishes/classification
Fetal Blood/chemistry
Female
Diet
Animals
Adult

Figure

• 

  Fig. 1 Change of blood mercury concentrations in the study group.

• 

  Fig. 2 Change of blood mercury concentrations in the control group.

Reference

1. Lee KN, Kwon OH. VIII Heavy Metal. Clinical Pathology File. 2003. 3rd ed. Seoul: Publishing Company Medical Culture;484–486.

2. Amin-Zaki L, Elhassani S, Majeed MA, Clarkson TW, Doherty RA, Greenwood M. Intra-uterine methylmercury poisoning in Iraq. Pediatrics. 1974. 54:587–595.

3. US Environmental Protection Agency. Publication EPA-452/R-97-003. Mercury Study Report to Congress, Volume I: Executive Summary. 1997. Washington, DC: Environmental Protection Agency.

4. Myers GJ, Davidson PW, Cox C, Shamlaye CF, Palumbo D, Cernichiari E, et al. Prenatal methylmercury exposure from ocean fish consumption in the Seychelles child development study. Lancet. 2003. 361:1686–1692.

5. Grandjean P, White RF, Weihe P, Jorgensen PJ. Neurotoxic risk caused by stable and variable exposure to methylmercury from seafood. Ambul Pediatr. 2003. 3:18–23.

6. Yamamura Y, Yoshinaga Y, Arai F, Kishimoto T. Background levels of total mercury concentrations in blood and urine. Sangyo Igaku. 1994. 36:66–69.

7. Tsuchiya H, Mitani K, Kodama K, Nakata T. Placental transfer of heavy metals in normal pregnant Japanese women. Arch Environ Health. 1984. 39:11–17.

8. Schober SE, Sinks TH, Jones RL, Bolger PM, McDowell M, Osererloh J, et al. Blood mercury levels in US children and women of childbearing age 1999-2000. JAMA. 2003. 289:1667–1674.

9. Grandjean P, Weihe P, White RF, Debes F, Araki S, Yokoyama K, et al. Cognitive deficit in 7-year-old children with prenatal exposure to methylmercury. Neurotoxicol Teratol. 1997. 19:417–428.

10. Davidson PW, Myers GJ, Cox C, Axtell C, Shamlaye C, Sloane-Reeves J, et al. Effects of prenatal and postnatal methylmercury exposure form fish consumption on neurodevelopment: outcomes at 66 months of age in the Seychelles Child Development Study. JAMA. 1998. 280:701–707.

11. Vahter M, Akesson A, Lind B, Bjors U, Schutz A, Berglund M. Longitudinal study of methylmercury and inorganic mercury in blood and urine of pregnant and lactating women, as well as in umbilical cord blood. Environ Res. 2000. 84:186–194.

12. 2004 EPA and FDA Advice For: Women who might become pregnant, women who are pregnant, nursing mothers, young children. What you need to know about mercury in fish and shellfish: Food and Drug Administration. 2004. 03. Available from: URL: http://www.cfsan.fda.gov/~dms/admehg3.html.

13. Consumer advisory: An important message for pregnant women and women of childbearing age who may become pregnant about the risks of mercury in fish. Food and Drug Administration. 2001. Washington: FDA;Available from: URL: http://www.cfsan.fda.gov/~lrd/tphgfish.html.

14. Food safety facts on mercury and fish consumption. Canada Food Inspection Fact Sheet. Available from: URL: http://www.inspection.gc.ca/english/corpaffr/foodfacts/mercurye.shtml.

15. Agency updates advice to pregnant and breastfeeding women on eating certain fish. Food Standards Agency. Available from: URL: http://www.foodstandards.gov.uk/news/pressreleases/tuna_mercury.

16. Environment Health Criteria 101. Methylmercury. 1990. Geneva: World Health Organization.

17. Behrman RE, Kliegman R, Jenson HB. Heavy metal intoxification. Nelson Textbook of Pediatrics. 2004. 17th ed. Elsevier Science Saunders;702–703.

18. Olsen SF, Secher NJ. Low consumption of seafood in early pregnancy as a risk factor for preterm delivery: prospective cohort study. BMJ. 2002. 324:447.

19. Olsen SF, Grandjean P, Weihe P, Videro T. Frequency of seafood intake in pregnancy as a determinant of birth weight: evidence for a dose dependent relationship. J Epidemiol Community Health. 1993. 47:436–440.

20. Hu FB, Bronner L, Willett WC, Stampfer MJ, Rexrode KM, Albert CM, et al. Fish and omega-3 fatty acid intake and risk of coronary heart disease in women. JAMA. 2002. 287:1815–1821.

21. Guallar E, Sanz-Gallardo MI, van't Veer P, Bode P, Aro A, Gomez-Aracena J, et al. Mercury, fish oils, and the risk of myocardial infarction. N Engl J Med. 2002. 347:1747–1754.

22. An official telegram of food: Common standard about general food. Korea Food & Drug Administration. Available from: URL: http://www.kfda.go.kr.

23. Test on total meucury in fishes in Korea 2004. Consumer Korea. Available from: URL: http://www.cacpk.org.