Mojtaba Hadavifar - Assistant professor, Environmental Sciences Department, Hakim Sabzevari University, Sabzevar, Iran
Mitra Rastakhiz - General physician, Sabzevar University of Medical Sciences, Sabzevar, Iran
Behnaz Souvizi - MSc of Epidemiology, Department of epidemiology & biostatistics, School of public health, Sabzevar University of Medical Sciences, Sabzevar, Iran
Rahim Akramid - MSc of Epidemiology, Department of epidemiology & biostatistics, School of public health, Sabzevar University of Medical Sciences, Sabzevar, Iran

Mercury (Hg) is a well-known neurotoxicant and exposure in high levels can harm to living organisms and human being in all ages. Fetuses and young children are a sensitive group even in low level exposure to Hg that can damage the brain and affect their central nervous system and cognitive development. The aim of this study was determining the maternal and fetal mercury burden levels in 89 mothers whom refer to Shahidan Mobini Hospital for delivery. About 360 samples were taken from 89 mothers as placenta tissue, placenta blood (representing mother blood), umbilical cord tissue and umbilical cord blood (representing infant blood) that the average of total mercury (tHg) in these samples were 10.65, 10.65, 12.18 and 9.10 μg/L, respectively. Findings also revealed that there was a strong and significant correlation (r=0.89, p≤0.001) between mothers blood and infants blood mercury burden. There was a negative significant correlation between number of pregnancy and mercury level values of placenta tissue (p≤0.036). The level of mercury in the blood of mothers and newborns had a meaningful relation with mother s living area. Our studies showed that the number of abortions and fruit consumption decrease the blood mercury levels with a non-significant correlation.

Mercury; Placenta; Umbilical cord; Maternal and fetal mercury