Fluorescent Polymer Detects Mercury in Fish

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In this context, a study led by researchers from the Foundation for the Promotion of Health and Biomedical Research of the Community of Valencia (Fisabio, for its Spanish abbreviation) and the Spanish Consortium for Research on Epidemiology and Public Health (Ciberesp, for its Spanish abbreviation) has shown that there is an association between prenatal mercury exposure and reduced placenta size and foetal growth.

The study, carried out within the Environment and Childhood (Inma, for its Spanish initials) mother-child cohort project, aimed to evaluate this link using data on 1,869 newborns from different regions of Spain (Valencia, Sabadell, Asturias and Guipúzcoa).

One of the largest studies carried out to date in order to determine mercury levels in umbilical cord blood samples and its association with different reproductive effects: measurements of foetal development (weight, height and head circumference at birth), placental weight, duration of pregnancy and risk of premature birth.

The findings, published in the journal 'Environmental Research', show a relatively high average mercury concentration in umbilical cord blood (8.2 micrograms per litre), with a 24 % of samples exceeding the WHO's provisional tolerable weekly intake equivalent.

"A double in the cord blood mercury concentrations (e.g. a change in the concentration from 8 to 16 µg per litre) is associated to a 7.7 g reduction in the weight of the placenta and also shows a pattern of negative association with the newborn's head circumference," explain Mario Murcia and Ferran Ballester, co-authors of the study. "However no relation was found with other parameters, such as duration of pregnancy."

The results of the Inma project suggest that prenatal mercury exposure may, therefore, be affecting the development of the placenta and foetal growth. Although the magnitude of these potential effects is small, reduced placental weight has been linked to the risk of high blood pressure in adulthood. Head circumference, in turn, has been associated with subsequent cognitive development.

Due to the positive effects on health that are also linked to consuming fish, the researchers urge for public health efforts in order to reduce human mercury emissions.

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