Distribution of mercury in serum and blood cells and risk of spontaneous preterm birth: A nested case–control study in China

Hang An; Bin Wang; Zhiyi Li; Yu Jin; Mengyuan Ren; Yanxin Yu; Yali Zhang; Le Zhang; Lailai Yan; Zhiwen Li; Aiguo Ren; Rongwei Ye; Kexin Li

Ecotoxicology and Environmental Safety (Jul 2021)

Distribution of mercury in serum and blood cells and risk of spontaneous preterm birth: A nested case–control study in China

Hang An,
Bin Wang,
Zhiyi Li,
Yu Jin,
Mengyuan Ren,
Yanxin Yu,
Yali Zhang,
Le Zhang,
Lailai Yan,
Zhiwen Li,
Aiguo Ren,
Rongwei Ye,
Kexin Li

Affiliations

Hang An: Institute of Reproductive and Child Health, Peking University, Key Laboratory of Reproductive Health, National Health Commission of the People’s Republic of China, Beijing 100191, PR China; Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, School of Public Health, Peking University, Beijing 100191, PR China
Bin Wang: Institute of Reproductive and Child Health, Peking University, Key Laboratory of Reproductive Health, National Health Commission of the People’s Republic of China, Beijing 100191, PR China; Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, School of Public Health, Peking University, Beijing 100191, PR China
Zhiyi Li: Institute of Geographic Sciences and Natural Resources Research, CAS, Beijing 100101, PR China
Yu Jin: Institute of Reproductive and Child Health, Peking University, Key Laboratory of Reproductive Health, National Health Commission of the People’s Republic of China, Beijing 100191, PR China; Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, School of Public Health, Peking University, Beijing 100191, PR China
Mengyuan Ren: Institute of Reproductive and Child Health, Peking University, Key Laboratory of Reproductive Health, National Health Commission of the People’s Republic of China, Beijing 100191, PR China; Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, School of Public Health, Peking University, Beijing 100191, PR China
Yanxin Yu: School of Environment, Beijing Normal University, Beijing 100875, PR China
Yali Zhang: Institute of Reproductive and Child Health, Peking University, Key Laboratory of Reproductive Health, National Health Commission of the People’s Republic of China, Beijing 100191, PR China; Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, School of Public Health, Peking University, Beijing 100191, PR China
Le Zhang: Institute of Reproductive and Child Health, Peking University, Key Laboratory of Reproductive Health, National Health Commission of the People’s Republic of China, Beijing 100191, PR China; Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, School of Public Health, Peking University, Beijing 100191, PR China
Lailai Yan: Department of Laboratorial Science and Technology, School of Public Health, Peking University, Beijing 100191, PR China
Zhiwen Li: Institute of Reproductive and Child Health, Peking University, Key Laboratory of Reproductive Health, National Health Commission of the People’s Republic of China, Beijing 100191, PR China; Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, School of Public Health, Peking University, Beijing 100191, PR China
Aiguo Ren: Institute of Reproductive and Child Health, Peking University, Key Laboratory of Reproductive Health, National Health Commission of the People’s Republic of China, Beijing 100191, PR China; Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, School of Public Health, Peking University, Beijing 100191, PR China
Rongwei Ye: Institute of Reproductive and Child Health, Peking University, Key Laboratory of Reproductive Health, National Health Commission of the People’s Republic of China, Beijing 100191, PR China; Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, School of Public Health, Peking University, Beijing 100191, PR China; Correspondence to: 38 Xueyuan Rd, Haidian District, Beijing 100191, PR China.
Kexin Li: Institute of Geographic Sciences and Natural Resources Research, CAS, Beijing 100101, PR China; Corresponding author.

Journal volume & issue: Vol. 217
p. 112228

Abstract

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The relationship between maternal mercury (Hg) intake and the risk of spontaneous preterm birth (SPB) remains unclear. We conducted a nested case–control study from a prospective cohort in Shanxi Province, China, to explore their associations. In total, 126 pregnant women with SPB (cases) and 348 controls with term delivery were included. We measured the Hg concentrations in their serum (Hgs) and blood cell (Hgc) fractions and calculated the concentration ratio of Hg in serum to Hg in blood cells (Hgs/c). We found that only the Hgs/c in the case group was slightly higher than that in control group. The OR of Hgs/c associated with SPB risk was 1.57 [95%CI: 0.99–2.46] with adjusting confounders. After stratification by sampling time, the association above was only statistically significant in the first trimester. High Hgs/c may increase the risk of SPB in the first trimester among women with relatively low Hg exposure.

Published in Ecotoxicology and Environmental Safety

ISSN: 0147-6513 (Print); 1090-2414 (Online)
Publisher: Elsevier
Country of publisher: United States
LCC subjects: Technology: Environmental technology. Sanitary engineering: Environmental pollution; Geography. Anthropology. Recreation: Environmental sciences
Website: https://www.journals.elsevier.com/ecotoxicology-and-environmental-safety

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