Relationship between urinary metabolites of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons and thyroid hormone levels in Chinese non-occupational exposure adult males.
Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAH) are ubiquitous global pollutants. Limited studies suggested that PAH may interfere with thyroid function in animals, but little is known about humans. A population of 480 Chinese males was recruited. Using LC-MS/MS, four urinary metabolites of PAH including 1-hydroxynaphthalene (1-N), 2-hydroxynaphthalene (2-N), 1-hydroxypyrene (1-P) and 2-hydroxyfluorene (2-F) were measured in spot urinary samples, which were adjusted by urinary creatinine (CR). Blood samples were collected for measuring serum levels of thyroid hormones including total thyroxine (TT4), free triiodothyronine (FT3), free thyroxine (FT4) and thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH). The median CR-adjusted urine PAH concentrations of 1-N, 2-N, 1-P, 2-F were 2.306, 4.047, 1.155 and 2.899 microg g(-1) of CR, respectively. Significant p-values for trend were found for men with higher 2-F tertiles and were more likely to possess high-reference TSH levels. In addition, the multivariate linear regression models showed significant positive correlations for TSH levels with increased CR-adjusted 2-F concentration. No significant associations were found between other thyroid hormones levels and PAH metabolite concentrations. These results indicated that PAH exposure might be related to altered male thyroid hormone levels, but further study is needed to confirm these observed findings.
Zhu
Pengfei
P
Key Laboratory of Reproductive Medicine, Institute of Toxicology, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing 210029, China.
Bian
Zenghui
Z
Xia
Yankai
Y
Han
Yan
Y
Qiao
Shanlei
S
Zhao
Rencheng
R
Jin
Nianzu
N
Wang
Shoulin
S
Peng
Yuzhu
Y
Wang
Xinru
X
D000328:Adult; D002681:China; D003710:Demography; D004785:Environmental Pollutants / Q000032:analysis* / Q000737:chemistry; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011084:Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons / Q000378:metabolism / Q000652:urine*; D013963:Thyroid Hormones / Q000097:blood*
D004785:Environmental Pollutants; D011084:Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons; D013963:Thyroid Hormones