Metal concentrations in blood and hair in pregnant females in southern Sweden

Abstract

The study described here was comprised of 100 pregnant females from two prenatal care units at the cities of Hassleholm and Simrishamn in southern Sweden. It included a questionnaire as well as whole blood (total mercury, cadmium, and lead) and hair (total mercury) sampling (collection period 2002-2003). The median values of total mercury (B-Hg 0.70 microg/L; range 0.27-2.1 microg/L), cadmium (0.30 microg/L, 0.05-4.8 microg/L) and lead (11.0 microg/L, 4.2-79 microg/L) in whole blood were low in the total material, as were the hair mercury concentrations (Hair-Hg 0.22 microg/g, 0.04-0.83 microg/g). In a multiple linear regression model, B-Hg was related to the number of fish meals per week and to the number of occlusal amalgam fillings (multiple r = 0.51; p < .001). The levels of mercury, cadmium, and lead in whole blood were lower than suggested biological reference intervals, and did not indicate risks for adverse health effects.