Hong Kong Med J 2012;18(Suppl 6):S23-4
Long-term neurocognitive outcomes of children prenatally exposed to low- dose methylmercury
HSHS Lam, TF Fok, PC Ng
Department of Paediatrics, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong
1. It has been suggested that low-dose prenatal mercury exposure as measured by umbilical cord blood mercury concentrations of <29 nmol/L causes adverse long-term neurocognitive outcomes.
2. Of 608 children, 491 (81%) had umbilical cord blood mercury concentrations of <29 nmol/L. However, umbilical cord blood mercury concentrations were associated with only two out of 23 neurocognitive subtests.
3. There is no strong evidence to support restriction in fish consumption in pregnant women to reduce prenatal mercury exposure.
2. Of 608 children, 491 (81%) had umbilical cord blood mercury concentrations of <29 nmol/L. However, umbilical cord blood mercury concentrations were associated with only two out of 23 neurocognitive subtests.
3. There is no strong evidence to support restriction in fish consumption in pregnant women to reduce prenatal mercury exposure.