Prenatal exposure to methyl mercury among Greenlandic Polar Inuits

Journal Article · · Archives of Environmental Health; (USA)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1080/00039896.1990.10118754· OSTI ID:5704777

Hansen, J C; Tarp, U ^[1]; Bohm, J ^[2]

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1. Univ. of Aarhus (Denmark)
2. District Medical Officer, Thule (Greenland)

During the period 1982 to 1988, 37 paired samples of blood from Inuit women and their newborn children were collected in North Greenland. The samples were analyzed for whole blood content of total mercury (tot-Hg) and for content of methyl mercury (Me-Hg). In maternal blood, 80% of the tot-Hg was found to be methylated in contrast to 98% in cord blood. Concentrations of Me-Hg in maternal and cord blood were significantly correlated, and the mean ratio between fetal and maternal blood Me-Hg was 1.9. Concentrations of Me-Hg in cord blood were closely related to the marine food intake of the mothers. Eighty-four percent of the mothers had blood concentrations of Me-Hg above 0.11 {mu}mol/l (23 {mu}g/l), which corresponds to the provisional limit of tolerable intake set by the World Health Organization. This indicates that the majority of the pregnant women have an unacceptable high intake of methyl mercury.

• OSTI ID: 5704777
• Journal Information: Archives of Environmental Health; (USA), Journal Name: Archives of Environmental Health; (USA) Vol. 45:6; ISSN 0003-9896; ISSN AEHLA
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

550900* -- Pathology
552000 -- Public Health
560300 -- Chemicals Metabolism & Toxicology
59 BASIC BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES
63 RADIATION, THERMAL, AND OTHER ENVIRON. POLLUTANT EFFECTS ON LIVING ORGS. AND BIOL. MAT.
99 GENERAL AND MISCELLANEOUS
ANIMALS
ELEMENTS
EPIDEMIOLOGY
ESKIMOS
GREENLAND
HAZARDS
HEALTH HAZARDS
INTERNATIONAL ORGANIZATIONS
MAMMALS
MAN
MERCURY
METALS
PREGNANCY
PRENATAL EXPOSURE
PRIMATES
VERTEBRATES
WHO