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Thyroid function and plasma concentrations of polyhalogenated compounds in Inuit adults.
- Source :
-
Environmental health perspectives [Environ Health Perspect] 2009 Sep; Vol. 117 (9), pp. 1380-6. Date of Electronic Publication: 2009 May 12. - Publication Year :
- 2009
-
Abstract
- Background: Several ubiquitous polyhalogenated compounds (PHCs) have been shown to alter thyroid function in animal and in vitro studies. So far, epidemiologic studies have focused on the potential effect of a small number of them, namely, polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) and some organochlorines (OCs), without paying attention to other important PHCs.<br />Objectives: We investigated the relationship between exposure to several PHCs and thyroid hormone homeostasis in Inuit adults from Nunavik.<br />Methods: We measured thyroid parameters [thyroid-stimulating-hormone (TSH), free thyroxine (fT(4)), total triiodothyronine (tT(3)), and thyroxine-binding globulin (TBG)] and concentrations of 41 contaminants, including PCBs and their metabolites, organochlorine pesticides (OCPs), polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs), perfluorooctanesulfonate (PFOS), and a measure of dioxin-like compounds, detected in plasma samples from Inuit adults (n = 623).<br />Results: We found negative associations between tT(3) concentrations and levels of 14 PCBs, 7 hydroxylated PCBs (HO-PCBs), all methylsulfonyl metabolites of PCBs (MeSO(2)-PCBs), and 2 OCPs. Moreover, we found negative associations between fT(4) levels and hexachlorobenzene concentrations. TBG concentrations were inversely related to 8 PCBs, 5 HO-PCBs, and 3 OCPs. Exposure to BDE-47 was positively related to tT (3), whereas PFOS concentrations were negatively associated with TSH, tT(3,) and TBG and positively with fT(4) concentrations.<br />Conclusion: Exposure to several PHCs was associated with modifications of the thyroid parameters in adult Inuit, mainly by reducing tT(3) and TBG circulating concentrations. The effects of PFOS and BDE-47 on thyroid homeostasis require further investigation because other human populations display similar or higher concentrations of these chemicals.
Details
- Language :
- English
- ISSN :
- 1552-9924
- Volume :
- 117
- Issue :
- 9
- Database :
- MEDLINE
- Journal :
- Environmental health perspectives
- Publication Type :
- Academic Journal
- Accession number :
- 19750101
- Full Text :
- https://doi.org/10.1289/ehp.0900633