Iranian Journal of Pathology

High Blood Mercury Levels in Iranian Infants: A Cause For Concern

Document Type : Original Research

Authors

Amitis Ramezani 1, 2
Ali Eslamifar 2
Latif Gachkar 1
Zahra Pournasiri 3
Mohammad Banifazl 4
Arezoo Aghakhani 2
Mohammad Rabbani 5
Mohammad Amin Faghih 5
Ali Akbar Velayati 6

1 Infectious Diseases Research Center, Shaheed Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran

2 Clinical Research Dept., Pasteur Institute of Iran, Tehran, Iran.

3 Loghman Hospital, Shaheed Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran

4 Iranian Society for Support of Patients with Infectious Diseases, Tehran, Iran.

5 Analytical Chemistry Groups, Nuclear Research Center, Tehran, Iran.

6 Masih Daneshvari Hospital, Tehran, Iran

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.  

Keywords

Mercury
Infant
Iran
Iranian Journal of Pathology
Volume 3, Issue 4 - Serial Number 4
Autumn 2008
Pages 186-190

  • Receive Date 29 September 2014

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