Biomonitoring of maternal and fetal exposure to mercury in Sabzevar and its affecting risk factors.

Fetuses and young children are sensitive to even low levels of exposure to Hg, which can damage their brain and adversely affect their central nervous system and cognitive development. This study was conducted to determine the maternal and fetal mercury burden levels in mothers presenting to Shahidan Mobini Hospital for delivery. Eighty-nine mothers were included in this study and 360 samples were taken from their placental tissue and blood (maternal blood) as well as their umbilical cord tissue blood (infant blood). Findings revealed a significant strong correlation (r = 0.890, p < 0.001) in blood mercury between mothers and their infants. According to multiple linear regression analysis, there was a significant positive association between living in rural areas and the level of mercury in the placental tissue (β = 11.09, p < 0.001). This positive association was also found in other samples. In addition, there was a significant association between maternal age and mercury level in the placental tissue (β = 5.56, p = 0.049), placental blood (β = 11.67, p = 0.003), umbilical cord tissue (β = 8.33, p = 0.004) and umbilical cord blood (β = 9.51, p < 0.001).