Methylmercury exposure during lactation: Milk concentration and tissue uptake of mercury in the neonatal rat

Journal Article · Fri Feb 01 04:00:00 EST 1991 · Bulletin of Environmental Contamination and Toxicology; (United States)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01691946· OSTI ID:5138384

Sundberg, J; Oskarsson, A; Albanus, L ^[1]

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1. National Food Administration, Uppsala (Sweden)

In recent years toxicological interest in mercury has predominantly been focused on the effects of prenatal exposure to methylmercury on the physical and mental development of children. Thus, there has been a general concern to limit the exposure of pregnant women to methylmercury. Much less attention has been paid to postnatal exposure to mercury. However, there is also a possibility of elevated mercury exposure in the newborn due to exposure via breast milk. There is a lack of data from both humans and animals on lactational transfer of many metals. However, metabolic evidence suggests that during the neonatal period the infant is sensitive to effects of these compounds. Thus, the gastrointestinal absorption and the retention of metals is higher during this period than adult life. In the present study the dose-dependent transfer of mercury into milk was studied in lactating rats treated with methyl-mercury. The uptake of mercury in tissues and blood was followed in the offspring exposed via milk.

• OSTI ID: 5138384
• Journal Information: Bulletin of Environmental Contamination and Toxicology; (United States), Journal Name: Bulletin of Environmental Contamination and Toxicology; (United States) Vol. 46:2; ISSN 0007-4861; ISSN BECTA
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

560300* -- Chemicals Metabolism & Toxicology
63 RADIATION, THERMAL, AND OTHER ENVIRON. POLLUTANT EFFECTS ON LIVING ORGS. AND BIOL. MAT.
ABSORPTION
ANIMALS
BIOLOGICAL MATERIALS
BODY FLUIDS
CHEMICAL ANALYSIS
FOOD
FUNCTIONS
INTESTINAL ABSORPTION
LACTATION
MAMMALS
MATERIALS
MERCURY COMPOUNDS
METHYLMERCURY
MILK
NEONATES
ORGANIC COMPOUNDS
ORGANIC MERCURY COMPOUNDS
RATS
RETENTION FUNCTIONS
RODENTS
SORPTION
UPTAKE
VERTEBRATES