The First Exposure Assessment of Mercury Levels in Hair among Pregnant Women and Its Effects on Birth Weight and Length in Semarang, Central Java, Indonesia

Muflihatul Muniroh (), Saekhol Bakri, Ainun Rahmasari Gumay, Julian Dewantiningrum, Mulyono Mulyono, Hardian Hardian, Megumi Yamamoto and Chihaya Koriyama
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Muflihatul Muniroh: Department of Physiology, Faculty of Medicine, Diponegoro University, Semarang 50275, Indonesia
Saekhol Bakri: Department of Public Health, Faculty of Medicine, Diponegoro University, Semarang 50275, Indonesia
Ainun Rahmasari Gumay: Department of Physiology, Faculty of Medicine, Diponegoro University, Semarang 50275, Indonesia
Julian Dewantiningrum: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Faculty of Medicine, Diponegoro University, Semarang 50275, Indonesia
Mulyono Mulyono: Department of Pediatrics, Faculty of Medicine, Diponegoro University, Semarang 50275, Indonesia
Hardian Hardian: Department of Physiology, Faculty of Medicine, Diponegoro University, Semarang 50275, Indonesia
Megumi Yamamoto: Department of Epidemiology and Preventive Medicine, Graduate School of Medical and Dental Sciences, Kagoshima University, Kagoshima 890-8520, Japan
Chihaya Koriyama: Department of Epidemiology and Preventive Medicine, Graduate School of Medical and Dental Sciences, Kagoshima University, Kagoshima 890-8520, Japan

IJERPH, 2022, vol. 19, issue 17, 1-14

Abstract: (1) Background: Methylmercury (MeHg) exposure during pregnancy is an important issue due to its possible adverse health effects on fetus. To contribute the development of assessment system of Hg exposure through fish consumption and health effects on children, we examined the hair Hg levels in pregnant women and birth weight and length. (2) Methods: In 2018, a cohort study was conducted on 118 pregnant women-infant pairs from six community health centers in the northern coastal area in Central Java Indonesia. Data on mothers’ characteristics during pregnancy, birth outcomes, and fish consumption were collected. Total Hg concentrations were determined from hair samples. (3) Results: The median (min-max) of the maternal hair Hg level was 0.434 (0.146–8.105) µg/g. Pregnant women living in lowland areas, near the sea, showed higher hair Hg concentration and fish consumption than those in highland areas {[0.465 (0.146–8.105) vs. 0.385 (0.150–1.956) µg/g; p = 0.043] and [(85.71 (0–500.0) vs. 49.76 (0.0–428.57) g/day; p < 0.01], respectively}. The maternal hair Hg level had no association with baby’s birth weight and length. (4) Conclusions: The median maternal hair Hg is at a low level and had no association with infant birth weight and length in this study subjects.

Keywords: hair mercury level; pregnant women; birth weight and length; Indonesia; fish consumption (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2022
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