834: Seafood in pregnancy and mercury levels in umbilical cord blood

levels in umbilical cord blood Reni Soon, Timothy Dye, Nicholas Ralston, Marla Berry, Lynnae Sauvage University of Hawaii, Obstetrics & Gynecology, Honolulu, HI, University of North Dakota, Energy & Environmental Research Center, Grand Forks, ND, University of Hawaii, Cell & Molecular Biology, Honolulu, HI OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to examine the influence of maternal fish consumption during pregnancy on umbilical cord mercury (Hg) concentrations in a multiethnic cohort of US women. STUDY DESIGN: This was a secondary analysis of a prospective cohort pilot study examining antenatal fish consumption and neonatal outcomes in Hawaii. The first 100 women who met eligibility criteria and consented were enrolled. After delivery umbilical cord blood was collected and women completed a dietary survey of their last month of pregnancy. RESULTS: 86% of women reported eating fish during the previous month, with 9% eating more than the recommended limit of 12 oz per week. 75% of Filipina ate fish, which was significantly less than nonFilipina (p .05). Women of most ethnicities consumed similar quantities of fish, with the exception of Japanese women, who consumed significantly less fish than non-Japanese, and Pacific Islander women, who consumed significantly more. Fish consumption varied significantly by income status, with 30% of poor women averaging more than 12 oz per week. Fish consumption did not vary by women’s age, or education. 44% of all women had 5 g Hg/L or more. Filipina were significantly less likely to have elevated Hg levels when compared with non-Filipina ( .05). Mercury levels did not vary by other demographic characteristics. Women who reported eating more than 12 oz of fish per week were significantly more likely to have 5 g Hg/L or more, but mean Hg levels were not significantly higher (6.1 3.3 v 5.0 3.7). The odds ratio for elevated Hg, however, was significant among fish-consumers compared with non-consumers (5.7; 95% confidence interval: 1.2, 27.1). CONCLUSION: Despite variation by ethnicity and income status in fish consumption during pregnancy, there exists a strong correlation between fish consumption and mercury levels. Almost half of the women in this study had elevated mercury levels. This project was supported by grants NCRR U54RR026136 and NIMHD U54MD007584 from the National Institutes of Health.