title: Correlation between urinary cadmium and thyroid hormones in outdoor workers exposed to urban stressors.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The aim of this study is to evaluate whether exposure to low concentrations of cadmium (Cd) can have effects on the thyroid hormone level of outdoor workers exposed to urban pollutants.
  
  
  METHODS
  The study was conducted on a final sample of 277 individuals (184 males and 93 females). The environmental monitoring of Cd was evaluated through the use of portable dosimeters, while the biological monitoring was achieved through the assessment of urinary Cd and thyroid hormones. The total sample was divided according to sex and task. The Pearson's correlation coefficient among the variables was calculated after subdivision on the basis of sex and task. The multiple linear regression was performed to take into account the major confounding factors.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Statistical tests showed a negative correlation between urinary Cd levels and free triiodothyronine and free thyroxine and a positive correlation between urinary Cd and thyroid-stimulating hormone levels.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Our early results seem to point out that occupational exposure to low concentrations of Cd present in urban air affects the thyroid hormone levels in exposed workers.
authors.affiliation: Department of Anatomy, Histology, Medical-Legal and the Orthopedics, Unit of Occupational Medicine, University of Rome "Sapienza", Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: Maria Valeria
authors.initials: MV
authors.lastname: Rosati
authors.affiliation: Department of Anatomy, Histology, Medical-Legal and the Orthopedics, Unit of Occupational Medicine, University of Rome "Sapienza", Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: Lucio
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Montuori
authors.affiliation: Department of Anatomy, Histology, Medical-Legal and the Orthopedics, Unit of Occupational Medicine, University of Rome "Sapienza", Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: Tiziana
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Caciari
authors.affiliation: Department of Anatomy, Histology, Medical-Legal and the Orthopedics, Unit of Occupational Medicine, University of Rome "Sapienza", Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: Carmina
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Sacco
authors.affiliation: Department of Anatomy, Histology, Medical-Legal and the Orthopedics, Unit of Occupational Medicine, University of Rome "Sapienza", Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: Mariasilvia
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Marrocco
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatric and Psychological Science, University of Rome "Sapienza", Rome, Italy franc.tomei@alice.it.
authors.forename: Gianfranco
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Tomei
authors.affiliation: Department of Anatomy, Histology, Medical-Legal and the Orthopedics, Unit of Occupational Medicine, University of Rome "Sapienza", Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: Barbara
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Scala
authors.affiliation: Department of Anatomy, Histology, Medical-Legal and the Orthopedics, Unit of Occupational Medicine, University of Rome "Sapienza", Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: Angela
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Sancini
authors.affiliation: Institute of Public Health, Unit of Occupational Medicine, University of Rome "Cattolica del Sacro Cuore", Roma, Italy.
authors.forename: Vincenza
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Anzelmo
authors.affiliation: Department of Anatomy, Histology, Medical-Legal and the Orthopedics, Unit of Occupational Medicine, University of Rome "Sapienza", Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: Sergio
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Bonomi
authors.affiliation: Department of Anatomy, Histology, Medical-Legal and the Orthopedics, Unit of Occupational Medicine, University of Rome "Sapienza", Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: Francesco
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Tomei
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000393:Air Pollutants / Q000652:urine; D002104:Cadmium / Q000652:urine*; D002947:Cities; D004784:Environmental Monitoring; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007558:Italy; D016014:Linear Models; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D016273:Occupational Exposure / Q000009:adverse effects*; D016495:Police; D013312:Stress, Physiological; D013961:Thyroid Gland / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D013972:Thyrotropin / Q000652:urine*; D013974:Thyroxine / Q000652:urine*; D014284:Triiodothyronine / Q000652:urine*; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D000393:Air Pollutants; D002104:Cadmium; D014284:Triiodothyronine; D013972:Thyrotropin; D013974:Thyroxine
keywords: Outdoor workers; endocrine disruptors; thyroid hormones; urban pollution; urinary cadmium