Association between several persistent organic pollutants and thyroid hormone levels in serum among the pregnant women of Korea.
Persistent organic pollutants such as polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs), and organochlorine pesticides (OCPs) are of global concern because of their widespread contamination and adverse health effects. Potential endocrine disruption, especially of thyroid status by PCBs has been repeatedly suggested in both experimental and epidemiological studies. However the associations with PBDEs or OCPs have been arguable especially in human populations. We investigated the associations between major groups of POPs and thyroid hormone balances among pregnant women. One hundred five pregnant women at delivery were recruited from four cities of Korea in 2011 and were investigated. Blood samples were collected within a day before delivery. Serum was then analyzed for 19 PCBs, 19 PBDEs, and 19 OCPs, along with five thyroid hormones (free and total T3 and T4, and TSH). Several PCBs such as PCB28, 52, and 118 showed negative associations with T3 or T4. BDE47 and total PBDEs showed significant associations with T3 or T4. For OCPs, dichlorodiphenyltrichloroethanes (DDTs) and hexachlorobenzene (HCB) were generally associated with reduction of T3 or T4. The thyroid hormone levels of all subjects were within the reference range, however exposure to several target POPs were clearly related with potential for disrupting thyroid hormone balance among pregnant women, at the current level of exposure. Although subtle, the changes in thyroid hormones should be seen with caution because even minor changes within pregnant women may have significant consequences especially on sensitive population like fetus.
School of Public Health, Seoul National University, Republic of Korea.
Sunmi
S
Kim
Jeongim
J
Park
Hai-Joong
HJ
Kim
Jeong Jae
JJ
Lee
Gyuyeon
G
Choi
Sooran
S
Choi
Sungjoo
S
Kim
Su Young
SY
Kim
Hyo-Bang
HB
Moon
Sungkyoon
S
Kim
Kyungho
K
Choi
D000328:Adult; D052244:Endocrine Disruptors / Q000097:blood; D004781:Environmental Exposure; D004785:Environmental Pollutants / Q000097:blood*; D005260:Female; D055768:Halogenated Diphenyl Ethers / Q000097:blood*; D006581:Hexachlorobenzene / Q000097:blood; D006801:Humans; D006843:Hydrocarbons, Chlorinated / Q000097:blood*; D008875:Middle Aged; D010575:Pesticides / Q000097:blood*; D011078:Polychlorinated Biphenyls / Q000097:blood*; D011247:Pregnancy; D056910:Republic of Korea; D013961:Thyroid Gland / Q000378:metabolism*; D013963:Thyroid Hormones / Q000097:blood*; D055815:Young Adult
D052244:Endocrine Disruptors; D004785:Environmental Pollutants; D055768:Halogenated Diphenyl Ethers; D006843:Hydrocarbons, Chlorinated; D010575:Pesticides; D013963:Thyroid Hormones; D006581:Hexachlorobenzene; D011078:Polychlorinated Biphenyls
Organochlorine pesticides; Polybrominated diphenyl ethers; Polychlorinated biphenyls; Pregnant women; Thyroid hormones