title: Toxic chemicals and thyroid function: hard facts and lateral thinking.
abstract: Increasing quantities of evidence-based data incriminate a large number of environmental pollutants for toxic effects on the thyroid. Among the many chemical contaminants, halogenated organochlorines and pesticides variably affect the hypothalamic-pituitary-thyroid axis and disrupt thyroid function. PCBs and their metabolites and PBDEs bind to thyroid transport proteins, such as transthyretin, displace thyroxine, and disrupt thyroid function. Meanwhile, at the molecular level, PCB congeners may activate phosphorylation of Akt, p-Akt, and forkhead box O3a (FoxO3a) protein resulting in inhibition of the natrium/iodide symporter. Given therefore the growing concern developing around these multiple toxic chemicals today invading numerous environments and their long-term deleterious effects not only on the thyroid but also on general health, we strongly advocate their strict regulation and, moreover, their gradual reduction. A good degree of "lateral thinking", we feel, will lead to a use of chemicals that will enhance life while concurrently carefully protecting the environment.
authors.affiliation: Evgenidion Hospital, Unit of Endocrinology, Metabolism and Diabetes, Thyroid Section, University of Athens, 20 Papadiamantopoulou Str., 10520, Athens, Greece. ledunt@otenet.gr.
authors.forename: Leonidas H
authors.initials: LH
authors.lastname: Duntas
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine, Thyroid Unit, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA.
authors.forename: Nikos
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Stathatos
mesh_terms: D052244:Endocrine Disruptors / Q000633:toxicity*; D004785:Environmental Pollutants / Q000633:toxicity*; D006801:Humans; D007031:Hypothalamus / Q000187:drug effects; D015398:Signal Transduction / Q000187:drug effects; D013961:Thyroid Gland / Q000187:drug effects*
chemical_list: D052244:Endocrine Disruptors; D004785:Environmental Pollutants
keywords: Lateral thinking; Organochlorines; Pesticides; TSH; Thyroid; Thyroid receptor