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Mercury concentration and fish consumption in Taiwanese pregnant women

  1. C-S Hsu1,
  2. P-L Liu2,
  3. L-C Chien2,
  4. S-Y Chou1,
  5. B-C Han2,*

Article first published online: 1 NOV 2006

DOI: 10.1111/j.1471-0528.2006.01142.x

Issue

BJOG: An International Journal of Obstetrics & Gynaecology

BJOG: An International Journal of Obstetrics & Gynaecology

Volume 114, Issue 1, pages 81–85, January 2007

Additional Information

How to Cite

Hsu, C.-S., Liu, P.-L., Chien, L.-C., Chou, S.-Y. and Han, B.-C. (2007), Mercury concentration and fish consumption in Taiwanese pregnant women. BJOG: An International Journal of Obstetrics & Gynaecology, 114: 81–85. doi: 10.1111/j.1471-0528.2006.01142.x

Author Information

  1. 1

    Taipei Medical University–Wan Fang Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan

  2. 2

    School of Public Health, Taipei Medical University, Taipei, Taiwan

*Dr B-C Han, School of Public Health, Taipei Medical University, 250, Wu-Hsing Street, Taipei 110, Taiwan. Email bchan@tmu.edu.tw

Publication History

  1. Issue published online: 1 NOV 2006
  2. Article first published online: 1 NOV 2006
  3. Accepted 15 September 2006. Published OnlineEarly 1 November 2006.

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Keywords:

  • Fish consumption;
  • mercury;
  • pregnant women;
  • Taiwan

Objective  The aim of this study was to assess the relationship between fish consumption and total mercury concentration in maternal blood, umbilical cord blood, and placenta tissue of pregnant women in Taiwan.

Design  Cross-sectional study.

Setting  A medical centre in Taipei, Taiwan.

Sample  Sixty-five pregnant women delivered between July 2004 and March 2005.

Methods  We administered a questionnaire to each woman in the third trimester and collected blood samples and placenta tissue after delivery. Mercury concentrations in the maternal blood, cord blood and placenta tissue were measured using mercury analyser (Hiranuma HG-310, Hitachi, Japan). A dietitian calculated the quantity of fish consumed from the questionnaire.

Main outcome measures  The total mercury concentration in maternal blood, cord blood and placenta tissue.

Results  The mean total mercury concentration in maternal blood, cord blood and placenta tissue was 9.1 ± 0.40 microgram/l, 10.0 ± 0.55 microgram/l and 19.2 ± 1.8 ng/g, respectively. Eighty-nine percent of the maternal blood mercury concentrations exceeded the US National Research Council recommended value of 5.8 microgram/l. Fish consumption while pregnant correlated significantly with maternal blood and cord blood mercury concentrations.

Conclusions  Total mercury concentrations of maternal blood, cord blood and placenta tissue commonly exceeded recommended values, and were higher in women who ate fish more than three times a week while pregnant.

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