Prenatal mercury exposure and postnatal outcome: clinical case report and analysis

Figures & data

Table 1.  Biomarkers of mercury exposure at the beginning of pregnancy

Biomarkers of mercury exposure	Mercury level (ngHg/mL)	Mean concentration for USA and 95% CI, 2003^7 (ngHg/mL)
Serum Hg	216
Urine Hg	413	0.72 (0.6–0.8)
Whole blood Hg	209	0.34 (0.3–0.4)

*All analyses were performed at the Mercury Laboratory at the University of Rochester, Rochester, NY.

Fig. 1.  Chest radiograph (PA view).

Table 2.  Biomarkers of mercury exposure at time of delivery

Samples/mercury level	Ng Hg/mL	Ng Hg/g	Mean levels for USA or Europe^7,^11 (ngHg/mL)
Maternal serum	180
Maternal urine	241		0.72
Maternal breast milk	281–318		1.59
Placenta tissue		1,111
Blood from placenta	127
Cord blood serum	145
Cord whole blood	190
Amniotic fluid	8

*All analyses were performed at the Mercury Laboratory at the University of Rochester, Rochester, NY.

Table 3.  Maternal, fetal, infant's biomarkers of mercury exposure during beginning pregnancy to postpartum (4 months)

Biomarkers of Hg exposure levels/dates	Beginning pregnancy	Time of delivery	4 months postpartum	Mean levels for USA or Europe for USA^7,^11
Maternal serum Hg level (ngHg/mL)	216	180	160
Maternal whole blood Hg level (ngHg/mL)	209	171	150	0.34
Maternal urine Hg level (ngHg/mL)	413	241	327	0.72
Maternal breast milk Hg level (ngHg/mL)		281–318		1.59
Placenta tissue Hg level (ngHg/g)		1,111
Placental blood Hg level (ngHg/mL)		127
Cord blood serum Hg level (ngHg/mL)		148
Cord whole blood Hg level (ngHg/mL)		190
Amniotic fluid Hg level (ngHg/mg)		8
Baby serum Hg level (ngHg/mL)			None detectable	DL 0.75 ngHg in aliquot
Baby whole blood Hg (ngHg/mL)			17
Baby urine Hg level ngHg/mL			None detectable	DL 0.75 ngHg in aliquot

*All analyses were performed at the Mercury Laboratory at the University of Rochester, Rochester, NY.

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