Maternal fish consumption, mercury levels, and risk of preterm delivery.

Full Abstract

BACKGROUND:
Pregnant women receive mixed messages about fish consumption in pregnancy because unsaturated fatty acids and protein in fish are thought to be beneficial, but contaminants such as methylmercury may pose a hazard.

METHODS:
In the Pregnancy Outcomes and Community Health (POUCH) study, women were enrolled in the 15th to 27th week of pregnancy from 52 prenatal clinics in five Michigan communities. At enrollment, information was gathered on amount and category of fish consumed during the current pregnancy, and a hair sample was obtained. A segment of hair closest to the scalp, approximating exposure during pregnancy, was assessed for total mercury levels (70-90% methylmercury) in 1,024 POUCH cohort women.

RESULTS:
Mercury levels ranged from 0.01 to 2.50 pg/g (mean = 0.29 microg/g; median = 0.23 microg/g). Total fish consumption and consumption of canned fish, bought fish, and sport-caught fish were positively associated with mercury levels in hair. The greatest fish source for mercury exposure appeared to be canned fish. Compared with women delivering at term, women who delivered before 35 weeks' gestation were more likely to have hair mercury levels at or above the 90th percentile (> or = 0.55 microg/g), even after adjusting for maternal characteristics and fish consumption (adjusted odds ratio = 3.0; 95% confidence interval, 1.3-6.7).

CONCLUSION:
This is the first large, community-based study to examine risk of very preterm birth in relation to mercury levels among women with low to moderate exposure. Additional studies are needed to see whether these findings will be replicated in other settings.

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Author information

Author/s: Xue, Fei (F); Holzman, Claudia (C); Rahbar, Mohammad Hossein (MH); Trosko, Kay (K); Fischer, Lawrence (L);

Affiliation: Harvard School of Public Health, Harvard University, Boston, Massachusetts, USA.

Grants: R01 HD 34543-01 (Agency:NICHD NIH HHS) ; R01 HD034543-07 (Agency:NICHD NIH HHS)

Journal and publication information

Publication Type: Journal Article; Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural; Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

Journal: Environmental health perspectives (Environ Health Perspect), published in United States. (Language: eng)

Reference: 2007-Jan; vol 115 (issue 1) : pp 42-7

Dates: Created 2007/03/19; Completed 2007/05/02; Revised 2008/11/20;

PMID: 17366817, status: MEDLINE (last retrieval date: 12/26/2008)

Sourced from the National Library of Medicine. Abstract text and other information may be subject to copyright.

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MeSH headings (categories)

This article was linked to the MESH Headings shown below.

Humans
Maternal Exposure
Mercury - analysis
Michigan - epidemiology
Pregnancy
Premature Birth - epidemiology
Water Pollutants, Chemical - analysis

Associated Chemicals: Water Pollutants, Chemical (0) ; Mercury (7439-97-6)

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