Elevated body burdens of PBDEs, dioxins, and PCBs on thyroid hormone homeostasis at an electronic waste recycling site in China.
A cross-sectional study of 25 sample sets (each set consisted of maternal serum and cord whole blood) from 50 pregnant women in zone A (n = 25 from exposed group) and zone B (n = 25 from reference group) was conducted to examine the association between thyroid hormone (TH) levels and PBDE, PCDD/F, and PCB exposures. Thyroid hormones TT3, TT4, and TSH levels were measured in maternal serum at 16 weeks of gestation. The concentrations of PBDEs, PCDD/Fs, and PCBs were determined by isotope dilution HRGC/HRMS in cord blood samples. Body burdens of the three contaminants in cord blood in zone A (median: summation sigma TEQ-PCDD/Fs 0.041, summation operator TEQ-PCBs 0.022 pg WHO-TEQ/g, summation operator PBDEs 23.4 pg/g whole weight, respectively) were significantly higher than those from the reference area (median: summation sigma TEQ-PCDD/Fs 0.014, summation sigma TEQ-PCBs 0.0041 pg WHO-TEQ/g, summation sigma PBDEs 16.15 pg/g, respectively) (p < 0.05). Levels of TT4 and TSH in serum in zone A were significantly lower than those in zone B (p < 0.05). A negative correlation was found between TT4 levels and body burdens of PCDD/Fs and PCBs. However, there was no significant association of concentration of PBDEs and levels of the three thyroid hormones. Our results suggest that electronic waste (e-waste) recycling contributes to high body burdens of PBDEs, PCDD/Fs, and PCBs and affects thyroid hormone homeostasis in humans. The potential health risk for neonates still needs further investigation.
Zhang
Jianqing
J
Shenzhen Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Luohu district, Shenzhen, Guangdong, PR China 518020. zhjianqing95@gmail.com
Jiang
Yousheng
Y
Zhou
Jian
J
Wu
Bin
B
Liang
Yin
Y
Peng
Zhaoqiong
Z
Fang
Daokui
D
Liu
Bin
B
Huang
Haiyan
H
He
Cai
C
Wang
Chunlei
C
Lu
Feina
F
D002681:China; D003247:Conservation of Natural Resources; D004147:Dioxins / Q000493:pharmacokinetics*; D004581:Electronics; D005260:Female; D055768:Halogenated Diphenyl Ethers / Q000493:pharmacokinetics*; D006706:Homeostasis; D006801:Humans; D011078:Polychlorinated Biphenyls / Q000493:pharmacokinetics*; D011247:Pregnancy; D013963:Thyroid Hormones / Q000378:metabolism*
D004147:Dioxins; D055768:Halogenated Diphenyl Ethers; D013963:Thyroid Hormones; C086401:pentabromodiphenyl ether; D011078:Polychlorinated Biphenyls