Determination of Mercury in Baby Formula Purchased from U.S. Supermarkets
Department
Chemistry
Major
Chemistry
Research Advisor
Wang, Jianmin
Advisor's Department
Civil, Architectural and Environmental Engineering
Funding Source
Missouri S&T Opportunities for Undergraduate Research Experiences (OURE) Fellows Program; EPA GRO Undergraduate Fellowship
Abstract
The toxic effect of mercury (Hg) in high doses has been known since the first century A.D.; however, only in recent years has low-level mercury exposure been cited as a possible contributing factor for behavioral and developmental disorders such as autism and ADD. In light of this new evidence, all possible routes of mercury exposure for infants should be assessed. In this study, the concentration of mercury in twenty baby formula types, representing all four major US brands, was measured to determine the contribution of food consumption to infant mercury exposure. Mercury levels in all samples fell below the EPA drinking water limit when compared to prepared formula concentrations. Mercury concentration was found to be correlated to formula brand but not to formula type (milk-based versus soy-based).
Biography
Brandi Clark is a fourth year undergraduate student studying in the Chemistry department. This presentation marks the completion of her third year conducting undergraduate research in the OURE program. Her current research interests are environmental and analytical chemistry, and she plans to enter a graduate program in Environmental Engineering after completion of her undergraduate degree.
Research Category
Engineering
Presentation Type
Oral Presentation
Document Type
Presentation
Award
Engineering oral presentation, Second place
Location
Gasconade Room
Presentation Date
08 Apr 2009, 9:00 am - 9:30 am
Determination of Mercury in Baby Formula Purchased from U.S. Supermarkets
Gasconade Room
The toxic effect of mercury (Hg) in high doses has been known since the first century A.D.; however, only in recent years has low-level mercury exposure been cited as a possible contributing factor for behavioral and developmental disorders such as autism and ADD. In light of this new evidence, all possible routes of mercury exposure for infants should be assessed. In this study, the concentration of mercury in twenty baby formula types, representing all four major US brands, was measured to determine the contribution of food consumption to infant mercury exposure. Mercury levels in all samples fell below the EPA drinking water limit when compared to prepared formula concentrations. Mercury concentration was found to be correlated to formula brand but not to formula type (milk-based versus soy-based).
