Prenatal mercury exposure and postnatal outcome: clinical case report and analysis

Abstract

Introduction. It is well known that vapor emitted from metallic mercury is a potent neurotoxic agent, but little toxicological information on liquid metallic mercury itself is available, especially with respect to developmental neurotoxicity. We were unable to find any cases of parental metallic mercury administration that reveal its effect on embryogenesis and human development. Case report. Young woman who, following a suicide attempt through the intravenous injection of liquid mercury, developed extremely high blood and urine mercury levels but was able to become pregnant and deliver an apparently mature and healthy infant. Analysis. To our knowledge, there were no similar cases reported in the literature. Therefore, we chose to perform a detailed analysis of this unique clinical case. We report levels of mercury in maternal, umbilical cord, and infant blood in samples of breast milk and placental tissues. Despite high levels of mercury in blood and urine samples, no immediate adverse heath effects were observed in either mother or infant. This case may shed a new light and information on the toxicology of mercury.

Keywords :

• Mercury
• Prenatal exposure
• Developmental effects

Acknowledgments

The authors appreciate valuable contributions and advice provided by Dr. George Delclos at the University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston, School of Public Health. We thank Dr. Irwin Horwitz and Dr. Arch Carson at The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston, School of Public Health and Dr. Grant Fowler at University of Texas Medical School at Houston for their assistance.

Authors appreciate collaboration and support during our study by staff of Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology and Reproductive Medicine at University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston and Mercury Laboratory at Medical School, University of Rochester, at Rochester, NY. We are thankful to Dr. Gary Myers at Rochester University, NY, for his help and encouragement and Dr. Susan Ramin at The University of Texas Medical School at Houston for clinical consultation on this case.