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Effects of low mercury vapour exposure on the thyroid function in chloralkali workers.
- Source :
-
Journal of applied toxicology : JAT [J Appl Toxicol] 2000 Nov-Dec; Vol. 20 (6), pp. 483-9. - Publication Year :
- 2000
-
Abstract
- Forty-seven chloralkali workers exposed to mercury vapour for an average of 13.3 years were compared with 47 referents matched for age in a cross-sectional study of thyroid function. The mean urinary mercury concentration in the exposed workers was low compared with other studies of chloralkali workers: 5.9 nmol mmol-1 creatinine (range 1.1-16.8) vs 1.3 nmol mmol-1 creatinine (range 0.2-5.0) in the reference group. The median serum concentration of reverse triiodothyronine (rT3) was statistically significantly higher in the exposed subjects compared with the referents (268 pmol l (-1) and range 161-422 vs 240 pmol l(-1) and range 129-352; P = 0.009). The difference between the exposed subjects and the referents was most pronounced in the highest exposed sub-groups. The free thyroxine (T4)/free T3 ratio was also higher in the highest exposed subgroups compared with the referents. The median serum concentration of tumour necrosis factor alpha (TNF-alpha) was lower in the exposed subjects (7.3 pg ml(-1) and range 4.4-69.7 vs 8.0 pg ml(-1) and range 6.0-34.6; P = 0.004). Exposed subjects with the lowest urinary iodine (<67.8 nmol mmol(-1) Cr) had higher serum concentrations of reverse T 3 and a higher free T4/free T3 ratio than the other subjects, suggesting that a low concentration of iodine in urine may be a risk factor for increased serum concentrations of reverse T3 and the free T4/free T3 ratio in subjects exposed occupationally to mercury vapour. The study could indicate a slight effect of low mercury vapour exposure on the function of the enzyme type I iodothyronine deiodinase, possibly modified by comparatively low urinary iodine concentrations.<br /> (Copyright 2000 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.)
- Subjects :
- Adult
Aged
Biomarkers
Chemical Industry
Humans
Iodine blood
Iodine urine
Male
Middle Aged
Regression Analysis
Selenium blood
Selenium urine
Thyroid Function Tests
Thyroid Hormones blood
Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha metabolism
Inhalation Exposure adverse effects
Mercury toxicity
Occupational Exposure adverse effects
Thyroid Gland drug effects
Subjects
Details
- Language :
- English
- ISSN :
- 0260-437X
- Volume :
- 20
- Issue :
- 6
- Database :
- MEDLINE
- Journal :
- Journal of applied toxicology : JAT
- Publication Type :
- Academic Journal
- Accession number :
- 11180271
- Full Text :
- https://doi.org/10.1002/1099-1263(200011/12)20:6<483::aid-jat722>3.0.co;2-i