Associations of maternal blood mercury with preeclampsia and birth outcomes

Background: Mercury (Hg) is a highly toxic substance, and its harmful effects on maternal and infant health have been reported. Yet, the associations of Hg exposure with preeclampsia (PE) and adverse birth outcomes are not well understood. Objective: The aim of this study was to investigate the potential effects of maternal Hg exposure on PE and birth outcomes. Methods: We conducted a case-control study with 84 participants in China. Logistic models were used to estimate odds ratios for PE risk and birth outcomes according to maternal blood Hg levels, adjusting for potential confounding factors. Results: Elevated blood Hg levels were associated with increased risks of mild PE (aOR, 7.03; 95% CI, 1.61, 30.62; P < 0.01) and severe PE (aOR, 47.55; 95% CI, 5.27, 429.05; P < 0.05). We also found that increased blood Hg levels were associated with low birth weight (aOR, 1.12; 95% CI, 1.00, 1.25; P < 0.05) and preterm birth (PTB) (aOR, 1.22; 95% CI, 1.08, 1.38; P < 0.05). Conclusions: Our study provided evidence that elevated blood Hg levels were significantly associated with an increased risk of PE. In addition, our findings support that increased blood Hg levels might be associated with low birth weight and PTB.

Automated summary

This study found that mercury exposure is associated with preeclampsia and adverse birth outcomes. Pregnant women with higher levels of mercury in their blood are more likely to develop mild and severe preeclampsia, as well as have low birth weight and preterm birth.