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Fish Consumption during Pregnancy, Mercury Transfer, and Birth Weight along the Madeira River Basin in Amazonia

Author

Listed:
  • Rejane C. Marques

    (Federal University of Rio de Janeiro, Campus Macaé, CEP 27930-560, RJ, Brazil)

  • José V. E. Bernardi

    (University of Brasília, Brasília, CEP 0919-970, DF, Brazil)

  • José G. Dórea

    (University of Brasília, Brasília, CEP 0919-970, DF, Brazil)

  • Katiane G. Brandão

    (Federal University of Rondônia, Porto Velho, CEP 76801-059, RO, Brazil)

  • Lucélia Bueno

    (Federal University of Rondônia, Porto Velho, CEP 76801-059, RO, Brazil)

  • Renata S. Leão

    (Institute of Biophysics Carlos Chagas Filho, Federal University of Rio de Janeiro, CEP 21941-902, RJ, Brazil)

  • Olaf Malm

    (Institute of Biophysics Carlos Chagas Filho, Federal University of Rio de Janeiro, CEP 21941-902, RJ, Brazil)

Abstract

Birth weight can be a predictor of maternal health issues related to nutrition and environmental contaminants. Total hair mercury (HHg) concentration was studied as an indicator of both fish consumption and methylmercury exposure in mothers (and newborns) living in selected low income areas of the Madeira River basin, Amazonia, Brazil. This cohort study (n = 1,433) consisted of traditional riverines (n = 396), riverines who had moved to urban (n = 676) and rural (n = 67) settings, and tin miner settlers (n = 294). Median maternal HHg was significantly different ( p = 0.00001) between riverine (12.1 µg·g −1 ), rural (7.82 µg·g −1 ), urban (5.4 µg·g −1 ), and tin miner (4.5 µg·g −1 ) groups studied. The same trend (of medians) was observed for newborns’ HHg which also showed significant differences between riverine (3.0 µg·g −1 ), rural (2.0 µg·g −1 ), urban (1.5 µg·g −1 ), and tin miner (0.8 µg·g −1 ) groups. The correlation between maternal and newborn HHg was statistically significant in the riverine (r = 0.8952; p = 0.0001), urban (r = 0.6744; p = 0.0001), and rural (r = 0.8416; p = 0.0001) groups but not in the mother-infant pairs in the tin miner group (r = 0.0638; p = 0.2752). Birth weight was significantly different among groups but did not show a pattern consistent with that of fish consumption (and HHg). A multiple regression analysis showed that only family income and gestational age had a significant impact on birth weight. Conclusions : Maternal HHg is an important biomarker of maternal fish consumption and of methylmercury exposure during pregnancy. However, in these Amazonian groups, only maternal education and gestational age seemed to affect birth weight positively.

Suggested Citation

  • Rejane C. Marques & José V. E. Bernardi & José G. Dórea & Katiane G. Brandão & Lucélia Bueno & Renata S. Leão & Olaf Malm, 2013. "Fish Consumption during Pregnancy, Mercury Transfer, and Birth Weight along the Madeira River Basin in Amazonia," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 10(6), pages 1-14, May.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jijerp:v:10:y:2013:i:6:p:2150-2163:d:26053
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Martine Bellanger & Céline Pichery & Dominique Aerts & Marika Berglund & Argelia Castaño & Mája Čejchanová & Pierre Crettaz & Fred Davidson & Marta Esteban & Marc E Fischer & Anca Elena Gurzau & Katar, 2013. "Economic benefits of methylmercury exposure control in Europe: Monetary value of neurotoxicity prevention," Post-Print hal-01505639, HAL.
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    Cited by:

    1. Mônica P. L. Cunha & Rejane C. Marques & José G. Dórea, 2017. "Child Nutritional Status in the Changing Socioeconomic Region of the Northern Amazon, Brazil," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 15(1), pages 1-12, December.
    2. Thayssa C. S. Bello & Rafael J. Buralli & Mônica P. L. Cunha & José G. Dórea & Fredi A. Diaz-Quijano & Jean R. D. Guimarães & Rejane C. Marques, 2023. "Mercury Exposure in Women of Reproductive Age in Rondônia State, Amazon Region, Brazil," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 20(6), pages 1-13, March.
    3. Kyle Dack & Matthew Fell & Caroline M. Taylor & Alexandra Havdahl & Sarah J. Lewis, 2021. "Mercury and Prenatal Growth: A Systematic Review," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(13), pages 1-19, July.

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