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Mercury and Premature Births

Pregnant women who eat fish, undergo dental treatments with amalgam or breathe mercury-polluted air are up to five times more likely to give birth prematurely, according to a study by researchers in Korea.

The study measured mercury levels in mothers’ cord blood, which flows directly from the mother to the developing fetus. Those with higher levels of mercury in their blood were three to five times as likely as other pregnant women to deliver premature babies. The mercury exposure was traced to dental treatments, fish consumption and air pollution drifting to Korea from China’s coal-fired power plants.

Mercury has previously been shown to be harmful to the still-developing central nervous system of unborn fetuses. This study finds it can cause other problems during pregnancy as well. The researchers conclude that pregnant women should not only limit the amount of fish they consume, but avoid dental treatments with amalgam until after they have given birth.

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To read more about this and other environmental health issues, go to: www.environmentalhealthnews.org, www.ourstolenfuture.org, or www.healthandenvironment.org