Neonatal thyroid-stimulating hormone level and perchlorate in drinking water.
BACKGROUND
The effect of perchlorate in drinking water on neonatal blood thyroid-stimulating hormone (thyrotropin; TSH) levels was examined for Las Vegas and Reno, Nevada.


METHODS
The neonatal blood TSH levels in Las Vegas (with up to 15 microg/L (ppb) perchlorate in drinking water) and in Reno (with no perchlorate detected in the drinking water) from December 1998 to October 1999 were analyzed and compared. The study samples were from newborns in their first month of life (excluding the first day of life) with birth weights of 2, 500-4,500 g. A multivariate analysis of logarithmically transformed TSH levels was used to compare the mean TSH levels between Las Vegas and Reno newborns, with age and sex being controlled as potential confounders.


RESULTS
This study of neonatal TSH levels in the first month of life found no effect from living in the areas with environmental perchlorate exposures of </=15 microg/L (P = 0.97).


CONCLUSIONS
This study, which was sensitive enough to detect the effects of age and gender on neonatal blood TSH levels, detected no effect from environmental exposures to perchlorate.
Li
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Consultants in Epidemiology and Occupational Health, Inc., Washington, DC 20007, USA.
Byrd
D M
DM
Deyhle
G M
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Sesser
D E
DE
Skeels
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MR
Katkowsky
S R
SR
Lamm
S H
SH
D000367:Age Factors; D001724:Birth Weight; D015986:Confounding Factors, Epidemiologic; D004781:Environmental Exposure; D005260:Female; D005312:Fetal Blood / Q000737:chemistry*; D005618:Fresh Water / Q000032:analysis*; D006801:Humans; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D008297:Male; D009505:Nevada; D010472:Perchlorates / Q000032:analysis*; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D012737:Sex Factors; D017670:Sodium Compounds / Q000032:analysis*; D013972:Thyrotropin / Q000097:blood*; D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical / Q000032:analysis*; D014881:Water Supply / Q000032:analysis*
D010472:Perchlorates; D017670:Sodium Compounds; D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical; D013972:Thyrotropin; C031068:sodium perchlorate