title: Biomonitoring of Lead, Cadmium, Total Mercury, and Methylmercury Levels in Maternal Blood and in Umbilical Cord Blood at Birth in South Korea.
abstract: With rising concerns of heavy metal exposure in pregnancy and early childhood, this study was conducted to assess the relationship between the lead, cadmium, mercury, and methylmercury blood levels in pregnancy and neonatal period. The study population included 104 mothers and their children pairs who completed both baseline maternal blood sampling at the second trimester and umbilical cord blood sampling at birth. The geometric mean maternal blood levels of lead, cadmium, total mercury, and methylmercury at the second trimester were 1.02 ± 1.39 µg/dL, 0.61 ± 1.51 µg/L, 2.97 ± 1.45 µg/L, and 2.39 ± 1.45 µg/L, respectively, and in the newborns, these levels at birth were 0.71 ± 1.42 µg/dL, 0.01 ± 5.31 µg/L, 4.44 ± 1.49 µg/L, and 3.67 ± 1.51 µg/L, respectively. The mean ratios of lead, cadmium, total mercury, and methylmercury levels in the newborns to those in the mothers were 0.72, 0.04, 1.76, and 1.81, respectively. The levels of most heavy metals in pregnant women and infants were higher in this study than in studies from industrialized western countries. The placenta appears to protect fetuses from cadmium; however, total mercury and methylmercury were able to cross the placenta and accumulate in fetuses.
authors.affiliation: Department of Preventive Medicine and Dong-A University Heavy Metal Exposure Environmental Health Center, Dong-A University College of Medicine, 49201 Busan, Korea. kimyumi@dau.ac.kr.
authors.forename: Yu-Mi
authors.initials: YM
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.affiliation: Dong-A University Heavy Metal Exposure Environmental Health Center, Dong-A University College of Medicine, 49201 Busan, Korea. jchung@dau.ac.kr.
authors.forename: Jin-Young
authors.initials: JY
authors.lastname: Chung
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Ilsin Christian Hospital, 48724 Busan, Korea. banana3592@hanmail.net.
authors.forename: Hyun Sook
authors.initials: HS
authors.lastname: An
authors.affiliation: New-born Obstetrics Clinic, 49340 Busan, Korea. dauhpsy@hanmail.net.
authors.forename: Sung Yong
authors.initials: SY
authors.lastname: Park
authors.affiliation: Department of Preventive Medicine and Dong-A University Heavy Metal Exposure Environmental Health Center, Dong-A University College of Medicine, 49201 Busan, Korea. medikim@dau.ac.kr.
authors.forename: Byoung-Gwon
authors.initials: BG
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Dong-A University College of Medicine, 49201 Busan, Korea. jwbae@dau.ac.kr.
authors.forename: Jong Woon
authors.initials: JW
authors.lastname: Bae
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Dong-A University College of Medicine, 49201 Busan, Korea. hmsobgy@dau.ac.kr.
authors.forename: Myoungseok
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Han
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Dong-A University College of Medicine, 49201 Busan, Korea. jeanjane@dau.ac.kr.
authors.forename: Yeon Jean
authors.initials: YJ
authors.lastname: Cho
authors.affiliation: Department of Preventive Medicine and Dong-A University Heavy Metal Exposure Environmental Health Center, Dong-A University College of Medicine, 49201 Busan, Korea. yshong@dau.ac.kr.
authors.forename: Young-Seoub
authors.initials: YS
authors.lastname: Hong
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D002104:Cadmium / Q000378:metabolism; D004785:Environmental Pollutants / Q000378:metabolism*; D005260:Female; D005312:Fetal Blood / Q000737:chemistry; D006801:Humans; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D007854:Lead / Q000378:metabolism; D008628:Mercury / Q000378:metabolism; D019216:Metals, Heavy / Q000378:metabolism*; D008767:Methylmercury Compounds / Q000378:metabolism*; D008875:Middle Aged; D011247:Pregnancy; D056910:Republic of Korea; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D004785:Environmental Pollutants; D019216:Metals, Heavy; D008767:Methylmercury Compounds; D002104:Cadmium; D007854:Lead; D008628:Mercury
keywords: biomonitoring; cadmium; heavy metals; lead; mercury; methylmercury; pregnancy; umbilical cord