engleski

The impact of the intrauterine exposure to methyl - mercury on development of children at age of 18 month

Objectives: To compare motor, cognitive and verbal characteristics in children age 18 months that were prenatally exposed to low-level methyl- mercury, and to analyze the eventual differences in these characteristics in relation to gender and cord blood methyl-mercury concentration. Patients and methods: 205 pregnant women and their children (evaluated in the newborn's age and at the age of 18 months) were included in the study. Cord blood total mercury concentration has been measured in 198 of examinees, whilst the cord blood methyl-mercury concentration has been measured in 47 examinees. Cord blood total mercury concentration has been used to determine the level of prenatal exposure to methyl-mercury, since there were 95% correlations between values of methyl-mercury and total mercury concentration. One month after the delivery, mothers are asked to complete the questionnaire regarding socioeconomic factors, breastfeeding of their infants, dietary habits during pregnancy, and the eventual professional exposure to particular mercury and methylmercury containing agents (colors, biphenyls, amalgams, etc.) during the last 5 years. Neurodevelopmental assessment of motor, cognitive and verbal skills were conducted on 168 children using The Bayley Scales of Infant and Toddler Development, Third Edition (Bayley III). Regarding the cord blood methyl- mercury concentration, children were divided in 4 quartile groups.

Intrauterine exposure, low-level methyl-mercury, alterations in fine motor skills

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