High Blood Mercury Levels in Iranian Infants: A Cause For Concern
Authors
Abstract:
ABSTRACT Background and Objective: There have been concerns over possible association between mercury and neurodevelopmental outcomes in infants. In this study we aimed to determine whether blood levels of mercury are above safe values in Iranian infants or not. Materials and Methods: A total of 85 infants (0, 2, 4 and 6 months old) were enrolled in this study. All of them received vaccines according to Iranian immunization schedules. We measured total mercury in all blood samples by cold vapor atomic absorption. Results: The mean concentration of blood mercury in our subjects were as follows: newborns as 33.95 ± 11.86 nmol/l (with a range of 23.93-52.84), 2 months as 32.94 ± 11.76 nmol/l (with a range of 23.92-52.84), 4 months as 30.44 ± 10.44 nmol/l (with a range of 23.92-50.85) and 6 months as 37.93 ± 12.97 nmol/l (with a range of 21.43-52.34). There was not any significant difference for the mean concentration of blood mercury in those age groups. The lowest level of blood mercury detected was 21.43 nmol/l and the highest level was 52.84 nmol/l. Conclusion: The finding of this study showed that approximately 33% of the infants had blood mercury levels above the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency recommended reference dose of 5.8 μg/l (29 nmol/l). Therefore, it is needed to reduce exposure of infants to mercury from all sources including thimerosal containing vaccines (TCVs) in Iran.
similar resources
high blood mercury levels in iranian infants: a cause for concern
abstract background and objective: there have been concerns over possible association between mercury and neurodevelopmental outcomes in infants. in this study we aimed to determine whether blood levels of mercury are above safe values in iranian infants or not. materials and methods: a total of 85 infants (0, 2, 4 and 6 months old) were enrolled in this study. all of them received vaccines ac...
full textHair Mercury Levels in Six Iranian Sub-populations for Estimation of Methylmercury Exposure: A Mini-review
Background: Mercury is widespread and persistent in the environment. One organic form of mercury, Methylmercury (MeHg), can accumulate in the food chain in aquatic ecosystems and lead to high concentrations of MeHg in fish, which, when consumed by humans, can result in an increased risk of adverse effects. Currently, the Joint FAO/WHO Expert Committee on Food Additives (JECFA) has established...
full textA cause for concern?
J ust to add to the recent concern over heading soccer balls and the risk of chronic brain injury, another study has just appeared that raises new fears. In a paper published in Brain, Chio and his colleagues from Italy reported that there was an increased risk of developing motor neurone disease (MND) amongst Italian soccer players. In this retrospective cohort study, there were five diagnosed...
full textParvovirus transmission by blood products - a cause for concern?
The introduction of dual viral inactivation of clotting factor concentrates has practically eliminated infections by viruses associated with significant pathogenicity over the last 20 years. Despite this, theoretical concerns about transmission of infection have remained, as it is known that currently available viral inactivation methods are unable to eliminate parvovirus B19 or prions from the...
full textPlagiarism: a cause for concern
It is very important that authors should present and discuss scientific data in an accurate, ethical and honest way. [1] Plagiarism is one of the very important problems which have been plaguing literature, art and science since times immemorial. According to Oxford dictionary of literary terms, 'plagiarism' is "the theft of ideas or of written passages or works, where these are passed off as o...
full textCasualty--a cause for concern.
To those familiar with the Robert Jones and Agnes Hunt Orthopaedic Hospital it may at first seem a little incongruous that a hospital whose past reputation was founded on 'cold orthopaedics' should concern itself with problems of trauma and the casualty department. The reason is not because we are concerned about the little trauma we receive from the surrounding countryside but because all of t...
full textMy Resources
Journal title
volume 3 issue 4
pages 186- 190
publication date 2008-09-01
By following a journal you will be notified via email when a new issue of this journal is published.
Hosted on Doprax cloud platform doprax.com
copyright © 2015-2023