Correlation of mercury with some biochemical parameters in serum of mothers and their new born children

Mercury is a toxic and harmful to developing brain in fetus if it found in a high concentration. It can pass from mothers to the fetus through the umbilical cord. The present study is conducted on 25 women with their children measuring serum mercury, total protein, total iron, AST, ALT and ALP. Results showed that the blood level of mother's mercury, total protein and ALT were lower than their children, butno-significant change between two groups. The results indicated that the levels of the total iron and AST were significantly decreased in mothers compared to their children, while ALP level was increased in mothers compared to their children. Correlation study showed a positive correlation between mercury and total ironand negative significant correlation between mercury and total protein in both mothers and their childrenwhich indicates the damage effect of mercury to the hepatic tissue in association with increase AST level in children which means that blood mercury levels are associated with elevated liver enzymes. Conclusion: mercury is negatively correlated with total protein and positively with liver enzymes.