Cord Blood Methylmercury and Fetal Growth Outcomes in Baltimore Newborns: Potential Confounding and Effect Modification by Omega-3 Fatty Acids, Selenium, and Sex

• DOI: 10.1289/ehp.1408596
• Publication Date: 2015-06-26T16:09:14Z
• Authors: Ellen M. Wells; Julie B. Herbstman; Yu Hong Lin; Jeffery Jarrett; Carl P. Verdon; Cynthia Ward; Kathleen L. Caldwell; Joseph R. Hibbeln; Frank R. Witter; Rolf U. Halden; Lynn R. Goldman
• Keywords: Methylmercury; Cord blood; Mercury

Methylmercury (MeHg) may affect fetal growth; however, prior research often lacked assessment of mercury speciation, confounders, and interactions.Our objective was to assess the relationship between MeHg growth as well potential for confounding or interaction this from speciated mercury, fatty acids, selenium, sex.This cross-sectional study includes 271 singletons born in Baltimore, Maryland, 2004-2005. Umbilical cord blood analyzed serum omega-3 highly unsaturated acids (n-3 HUFAs), selenium. Multivariable linear regression models controlled gestational age, birth weight, maternal parity, prepregnancy body mass index, smoking, hypertension, diabetes, n-3 HUFAs, inorganic (IHg).Geometric mean 0.94 μg/L (95% CI: 0.84, 1.07). In adjusted ponderal βln(MeHg) = -0.045 (g/cm(3)) × 100 -0.084, -0.005). There no evidence a sex with index. Contrastingly, there HUFAs length [among low 0.40 cm, 95% -0.02, 0.81; among high -0.15, -0.54, 0.25; p-interaction 0.048] head circumference 0.01 -0.27, 0.29; -0.37, -0.63, -0.10; 0.042]. The association weight index affected by IHg. For without these variables -16.8 g -75.0, 41.3) versus -29.7 -93.9, 34.6) all covariates. Corresponding values were -0.030 -0.065, 0.005) -0005).We observed an increased decreased is HUFAs; infants higher had lower circumference. These results should be verified additional studies.