Biomonitoring of Lead, Cadmium, Total Mercury, and Methylmercury Levels in Maternal Blood and in Umbilical Cord Blood at Birth in South Korea

Yu-Mi Kim, Jin-Young Chung, Hyun Sook An, Sung Yong Park, Byoung-Gwon Kim, Jong Woon Bae, Myoungseok Han, Yeon Jean Cho and Young-Seoub Hong
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Yu-Mi Kim: Department of Preventive Medicine and Dong-A University Heavy Metal Exposure Environmental Health Center, Dong-A University College of Medicine, 49201 Busan, Korea
Jin-Young Chung: Dong-A University Heavy Metal Exposure Environmental Health Center, Dong-A University College of Medicine, 49201 Busan, Korea
Hyun Sook An: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Ilsin Christian Hospital, 48724 Busan, Korea
Sung Yong Park: New-born Obstetrics Clinic, 49340 Busan, Korea
Byoung-Gwon Kim: Department of Preventive Medicine and Dong-A University Heavy Metal Exposure Environmental Health Center, Dong-A University College of Medicine, 49201 Busan, Korea
Jong Woon Bae: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Dong-A University College of Medicine, 49201 Busan, Korea
Myoungseok Han: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Dong-A University College of Medicine, 49201 Busan, Korea
Yeon Jean Cho: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Dong-A University College of Medicine, 49201 Busan, Korea
Young-Seoub Hong: Department of Preventive Medicine and Dong-A University Heavy Metal Exposure Environmental Health Center, Dong-A University College of Medicine, 49201 Busan, Korea

IJERPH, 2015, vol. 12, issue 10, 1-12

Abstract: With rising concerns of heavy metal exposure in pregnancy and early childhood, this study was conducted to assess the relationship between the lead, cadmium, mercury, and methylmercury blood levels in pregnancy and neonatal period. The study population included 104 mothers and their children pairs who completed both baseline maternal blood sampling at the second trimester and umbilical cord blood sampling at birth. The geometric mean maternal blood levels of lead, cadmium, total mercury, and methylmercury at the second trimester were 1.02 ± 1.39 µg/dL, 0.61 ± 1.51 µg/L, 2.97 ± 1.45 µg/L, and 2.39 ± 1.45 µg/L, respectively, and in the newborns, these levels at birth were 0.71 ± 1.42 µg/dL, 0.01 ± 5.31 µg/L, 4.44 ± 1.49 µg/L, and 3.67 ± 1.51 µg/L, respectively. The mean ratios of lead, cadmium, total mercury, and methylmercury levels in the newborns to those in the mothers were 0.72, 0.04, 1.76, and 1.81, respectively. The levels of most heavy metals in pregnant women and infants were higher in this study than in studies from industrialized western countries. The placenta appears to protect fetuses from cadmium; however, total mercury and methylmercury were able to cross the placenta and accumulate in fetuses.

Keywords: heavy metals; lead; cadmium; mercury; methylmercury; biomonitoring; pregnancy; umbilical cord (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2015
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (4)

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