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Assessing a New Method for Measuring Fetal Exposure to Mercury: Newborn Bloodspots

Author

Listed:
  • Jessica W. Nelson

    (Environmental Tracking and Biomonitoring Program, Minnesota Department of Health, St. Paul, MN 55164, USA)

  • Betsy L. Edhlund

    (Public Health Laboratory, Minnesota Department of Health, St. Paul, MN 55164, USA)

  • Jean Johnson

    (Environmental Tracking and Biomonitoring Program, Minnesota Department of Health, St. Paul, MN 55164, USA)

  • Christina E. Rosebush

    (Environmental Tracking and Biomonitoring Program, Minnesota Department of Health, St. Paul, MN 55164, USA)

  • Zachary S. Holmquist

    (Division of Epidemiology & Community Health, School of Public Health, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN 55454, USA)

  • Shanna H. Swan

    (Department of Preventive Medicine, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY 10029, USA)

  • Ruby H. N. Nguyen

    (Division of Epidemiology & Community Health, School of Public Health, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN 55454, USA)

Abstract

Background: Measuring mercury in newborn bloodspots to determine fetal exposures is a novel methodology with many advantages. Questions remain, however, about its reliability as an estimate of newborn exposure to mercury. Methods: We studied mercury concentrations in paired bloodspots and cord blood from a convenience sample of 48 Minnesota women and infants. Results: The limit of detection for bloodspots was higher than for cord blood (0.7 and 0.3 μg/L in bloodspots and cord blood, respectively) with the result that mercury was detected in only 38% of newborn bloodspots compared to 62% of cord blood samples. The geometric mean mercury concentration in cord blood was 0.6 μg/L. Mercury concentrations were almost uniformly lower in bloodspots than in cord blood (mean ratio (±SD) = 0.85 ± 0.4), their mean value was significantly less than that for the cord blood ( p = 0.02), and the two methods were highly correlated ( r = 0.82). Conclusion: These preliminary findings indicate that newborn bloodspot mercury measurements have utility; however, until bloodspot analyses are more sensitive, they are likely to underestimate in utero exposure.

Suggested Citation

  • Jessica W. Nelson & Betsy L. Edhlund & Jean Johnson & Christina E. Rosebush & Zachary S. Holmquist & Shanna H. Swan & Ruby H. N. Nguyen, 2016. "Assessing a New Method for Measuring Fetal Exposure to Mercury: Newborn Bloodspots," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 13(7), pages 1-8, July.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jijerp:v:13:y:2016:i:7:p:692-:d:73630
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Samantha E. Serrano & Catherine J. Karr & Noah S. Seixas & Ruby H. N. Nguyen & Emily S. Barrett & Sarah Janssen & Bruce Redmon & Shanna H. Swan & Sheela Sathyanarayana, 2014. "Dietary Phthalate Exposure in Pregnant Women and the Impact of Consumer Practices," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 11(6), pages 1-23, June.
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