Biomonitoring of Lead, Cadmium, Total Mercury, and Methylmercury Levels in Maternal Blood and in Umbilical Cord Blood at Birth in South Korea

International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health

Yu-Mi Kim²  Jin-Young Chung³  Hyun Sook An⁵  Sung Yong Park⁴  Byoung-Gwon Kim²  Jong Woon Bae¹  Myoungseok Han¹  Yeon Jean Cho¹  Young-Seoub Hong² 

[1] Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Dong-A University College of Medicine, 49201 Busan, Korea; E-Mails:;Department of Preventive Medicine and Dong-A University Heavy Metal Exposure Environmental Health Center, Dong-A University College of Medicine, 49201 Busan, Korea; E-Mails:;Dong-A University Heavy Metal Exposure Environmental Health Center, Dong-A University College of Medicine, 49201 Busan, Korea; E-Mail:;New-born Obstetrics Clinic, 49340 Busan, Korea; E-Mail:;Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Ilsin Christian Hospital, 48724 Busan, Korea; E-Mail:

关键词: heavy metals;    lead;    cadmium;    mercury;    methylmercury;    biomonitoring;    pregnancy;    umbilical cord;   

DOI  :  10.3390/ijerph121013482

来源: mdpi

【 摘 要 】

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.

【 授权许可】

CC BY   
© 2015 by the authors; licensee MDPI, Basel, Switzerland.