Methylmercury exposure during lactation: Milk concentration and tissue uptake of mercury in the neonatal rat

Sundberg, Johanna; Oskarsson, Agneta; Albanus, Lennart

doi:10.1007/bf01691946

Cited by 31 publications

(14 citation statements)

References 12 publications

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“…In another experimental study, single oral doses of methyl- 203 Hg were given to rats on day 9 of lactation to investigate the transfer of mercury in the milk. A linear, dose-dependent transfer of mercury from plasma to milk was found (Sundberg et al, 1991).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 94%

The Mercury Concentration in Breast Milk Resulting from Amalgam Fillings and Dietary Habits

Drexler

Schaller

1998

Environmental Research

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Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 94%

The Mercury Concentration in Breast Milk Resulting from Amalgam Fillings and Dietary Habits

Drexler

Schaller

1998

Environmental Research

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“…However, another study found correlations to both (Drexler and Schaller 1998). Both human and animal studies indicate that the infant may be exposed to MeHg via breast milk (Grandjean et al 1994; Nordenhall et al 1998; Sundberg et al 1991). However, to what extent I-Hg and MeHg in breast milk are taken up by the child is not known.…”

mentioning

confidence: 99%

Transport of Methylmercury and Inorganic Mercury to the Fetus and Breast-Fed Infant

Björnberg

Vahter

Berglund

et al. 2005

Environ Health Perspect

141

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It is well established that methylmercury (MeHg) and mercury vapor pass the placenta, but little is known about infant exposure via breast milk. We measured MeHg and inorganic mercury (I-Hg) in blood of Swedish mothers (n = 20) and their infants, as well as total mercury (T-Hg) in breast milk up to 13 weeks postpartum. Infant blood MeHg was highly associated with maternal blood MeHg at delivery, although more than twice as high. Infant MeHg decreased markedly until 13 weeks of age. Infant blood I-Hg was associated with, and about as high as, maternal blood I-Hg at delivery. Infant I-Hg decreased until 13 weeks. In breast milk, T-Hg decreased significantly from day 4 to 6 weeks after delivery but remained unchanged thereafter. At 13 weeks, T-Hg in breast milk was associated with infant MeHg but not with maternal MeHg. Conversely, T-Hg in breast milk was associated with maternal I-Hg but not with infant I-Hg. From the findings of the present study in which the exposure to both MeHg and I-Hg was low, we conclude that the exposure to both forms of mercury is higher before birth than during the breast-feeding period, and that MeHg seems to contribute more than I-Hg to infant exposure postnatally via breast milk.

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“…Similarly, human and rodent studies have suggested that increased or stable THg levels in neonates are the result of Hg intake through the milk as well as limited ability of the newborn to demethylate and eliminate Hg (Grandjean et al 1995b;Sundberg et al 1991). The THg increase observed also could be resulting from the females consuming prey with higher THg levels during lactation, as suggested recently for Steller sea lions (Eumetopias jubatus) (Rea et al 2013).…”

Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 82%

Mercury Accumulation in Harbour Seals from the Northeastern Pacific Ocean: The Role of Transplacental Transfer, Lactation, Age and Location

Noël

Jeffries

Lambourn

et al. 2015

Arch Environ Contam Toxicol

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Mercury (Hg) bioaccumulates in the aquatic food chain in the form of methylmercury, a compound well known for its neurotoxicity. We analyzed total mercury (THg) in hair collected from 209 harbour seals captured at 10 sites in British Columbia (Canada) and Washington State (USA) between 2003 and 2010. In addition, laser ablation inductively-coupled plasma mass spectrometry (LA-ICP-MS) allowed for a highly refined analysis of THg accumulation over time by examining nine whiskers taken from 4- to 6-week-old pups. We estimate that THg concentrations in pups increased sharply at a point corresponding to mid- to late gestation of their time in utero (4.7 ± 0.8 and 6.6 ± 1.3 µg/g dry weight (dw), respectively), and then again at the onset of nursing (8.1 ± 1.3 µg/g dw). These abrupt changes highlight the importance of both pre- and post-natal THg transfer from the mother to the growing fetus and the newborn pup. While THg levels varied among sites, hair analyses from seals collected at the same site demonstrated the influence of age in THg accumulation with pups (5.3 ± 0.3 µg/g) and juveniles (4.5 ± 0.5 µg/g) having lower levels than those in adults (8.3 ± 0.8 µg/g). Our results revealed that 33 % of the pups sampled (n = 167) had THg levels that surpassed a mammalian hair threshold for neurochemical alterations. This study suggests that Hg could represent a health concern to marine wildlife, especially as atmospheric emissions of this toxic element from human activities in the Pacific Rim and worldwide continue.

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Methylmercury exposure during lactation: Milk concentration and tissue uptake of mercury in the neonatal rat

Cited by 31 publications

References 12 publications

The Mercury Concentration in Breast Milk Resulting from Amalgam Fillings and Dietary Habits

The Mercury Concentration in Breast Milk Resulting from Amalgam Fillings and Dietary Habits

Transport of Methylmercury and Inorganic Mercury to the Fetus and Breast-Fed Infant

Mercury Accumulation in Harbour Seals from the Northeastern Pacific Ocean: The Role of Transplacental Transfer, Lactation, Age and Location

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