title: Thyroid effects of endocrine disrupting chemicals.
abstract: In recent years, many studies of thyroid-disrupting effects of environmental chemicals have been published. Of special concern is the exposure of pregnant women and infants, as thyroid disruption of the developing organism may have deleterious effects on neurological outcome. Chemicals may exert thyroid effects through a variety of mechanisms of action, and some animal experiments and in vitro studies have focused on elucidating the mode of action of specific chemical compounds. Long-term human studies on effects of environmental chemicals on thyroid related outcomes such as growth and development are still lacking. The human exposure scenario with life long exposure to a vast mixture of chemicals in low doses and the large physiological variation in thyroid hormone levels between individuals render human studies very difficult. However, there is now reasonably firm evidence that PCBs have thyroid-disrupting effects, and there is emerging evidence that also phthalates, bisphenol A, brominated flame retardants and perfluorinated chemicals may have thyroid disrupting properties.
authors.affiliation: Department of Growth and Reproduction GR, Rigshospitalet, University of Copenhagen, Denmark. maleneboas@dadlnet.dk
authors.forename: Malene
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Boas
authors.forename: Ulla
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Feldt-Rasmussen
authors.forename: Katharina M
authors.initials: KM
authors.lastname: Main
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D052244:Endocrine Disruptors / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000633:toxicity*; D004781:Environmental Exposure; D005260:Female; D005411:Flame Retardants / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000633:toxicity*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D018811:Maternal Exposure; D010575:Pesticides / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000633:toxicity*; D011247:Pregnancy; D060728:Reproductive Health; D013961:Thyroid Gland / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism; D013963:Thyroid Hormones / Q000502:physiology
chemical_list: D052244:Endocrine Disruptors; D005411:Flame Retardants; D010575:Pesticides; D013963:Thyroid Hormones