{Reference Type}: Journal Article
{Title}: Early exposure to mercury and cardiovascular function of seven-year old children in Guadeloupe (French West Indies).
{Author}: Costet N;Doyen M;Rouget F;Michineau L;Monfort C;Cirtiu CM;Kadhel P;Multigner L;Pladys P;Cordier S;
{Journal}: Environ Res
{Volume}: 246
{Issue}: 0
{Year}: 2024 Apr 1
{Factor}: 8.431
{DOI}: 10.1016/j.envres.2023.117955
{Abstract}: <B>BACKGROUND: </B>The cardiotoxicity of prenatal exposure to mercury has been suggested in populations having regular contaminated seafood intake, though replications in the literature are inconsistent.<BR><B>METHODS: </B>The Timoun Mother-Child Cohort Study was set up in Guadeloupe, an island in the Caribbean Sea where seafood consumption is regular. At seven years of age, 592 children underwent a medical examination, including cardiac function assessment. Blood pressure (BP) was taken using an automated blood pressure monitor, heart rate variability (HRV, 9 parameters) and electrocardiogram (ECG) characteristics (QT, T-wave parameters) were measured using Holter cardiac monitoring during the examination. Total mercury concentrations were measured in cord blood at birth (median = 6.6 μg/L, N = 399) and in the children's blood at age 7 (median = 1.7 μg/L, N = 310). Adjusted linear and non-linear modelling was used to study the association of each cardiac parameter with prenatal and childhood exposures. Sensitivity analyses included co-exposures to lead and cadmium, adjustment for maternal seafood consumption, selenium and polyunsaturated fatty acids (n3-PUFAs), and for sporting activity.<BR><B>RESULTS: </B>Higher prenatal mercury was associated with higher systolic BP at 7 years of age (βlog2 = 1.02; 95% Confidence Interval (CI) = 0.10, 1.19). In boys, intermediate prenatal exposure was associated with reduced overall HRV and parasympathetic activity, and longer QT was observed with increasing prenatal mercury (βlog2 = 4.02; CI = 0.48, 7.56). In girls, HRV tended to increase linearly with prenatal exposure, and no association was observed with QT-wave related parameters. Mercury exposure at 7 years was associated with decreased BP in girls (βlog2 = -1.13; CI = -2.22, -0.004 for diastolic BP). In boys, the low/high-frequency (LF/HF) ratio increased for intermediate levels of exposure.<BR><B>CONCLUSIONS: </B>Our study suggests sex-specific and non-monotonic modifications in some cardiac health parameters following prenatal exposure to mercury in pre-pubertal children from an insular fish-consuming population.