Prenatal Exposure to Mercury and Adverse Birth Outcomes in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil: Rio Birth Cohort Study (PIPA Project)

[摘要] Background: Mercury (Hg) is a highly toxic environmental pollutant, with studies of its prenatalexposure indicating adverse birth outcomes such as low birth weight, preterm delivery, and microcephaly. Therefore, we analyzed prenatal Hg exposure levels and their relationship with birthoutcomes in pregnant women living in an urban area in the city of Rio de Janeiro.Subjects and Method: A cross-sectional study nested in the prospective birth cohort (PIPAProject) was conducted at the Federal University of Rio de Janeiro Maternity School from Octoberto November 2017. A total of 117 mother-infant pairs were evaluated. The sampling technique usedconvenience sampling. The independent variables encompassed maternal and cord blood Hglevels, while the dependent variables were birth weight, birth length, head circumference (neonatalanthropometrics), and Apgar score at 1 and 5 minutes. The Hg levels were analyzed using inductively coupled plasma-mass spectrometry, and dependent variable data were obtained throughmedical records. Multiple regression models were applied using the SPSS.Results: The detection rate of maternal and cord blood was 100%, with medians of 0.76 and 0.91µg/L, respectively. A strong correlation between maternal and cord blood Hg levels was observed(r= 0.70; p<0.010), as well as an inverse association between cord blood Hg and Apgar score at 1and 5 minutes (b=−0.47; p<0.010; b=−0.34; p<0.010) after adjusting for covariates.Conclusion: Our study provided preliminary evidence that Hg exposure was associated with aworse Apgar score at 1 and 5 minutes. However, the relevance of this finding requires furtherevaluations due to its potential clinical implications concerning newborn health.

[学科分类] 食品科学和技术

[关键词] Mercury;Maternal exposure;Apgar Score;Anthropometry