title: Para-Dichlorobenzene Exposure Is Associated with Thyroid Dysfunction in US Adolescents.
abstract: To examine the association between exposure to para-dichlorobenzene, measured as urinary concentrations of 2,5-dichlorophenol (2,5-DCP), and thyroid function in US adolescents.
  
  
  
  A nationally representative subsample of 618 adolescents aged 12-19 years in the 2007-2008 and 2011-2012 National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey was analyzed for the association of urinary 2,5-DCP with serum thyroid function measures using multivariate logistic and general linear regression models.
  
  
  
  After adjusting for potential confounders, we found a significantly positive association between urinary concentrations of 2,5-DCP and serum levels of thyroid-stimulating hormone and thyroglobulin in adolescents. Furthermore, urinary 2,5-DCP was associated with an increased prevalence of hypothyroidism in the study population.
  
  
  
  This study demonstrates a potential relationship between para-dichlorobenzene exposure, measured as urinary 2,5-DCP, and thyroid dysfunction in adolescents; however, further studies are needed to confirm our findings and to elucidate mechanisms of action.
authors.affiliation: Department of Community Medicine, Mercer University School of Medicine, Macon, GA. Electronic address: wei_yd@mercer.edu.
authors.forename: Yudan
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Wei
authors.affiliation: Department of Mathematics and Computer Science, Fort Valley State University, Fort Valley, GA.
authors.forename: Jianmin
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Zhu
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D002648:Child; D002722:Chlorobenzenes / Q000633:toxicity*; D002733:Chlorophenols / Q000652:urine; D004781:Environmental Exposure / Q000009:adverse effects*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D013959:Thyroid Diseases / Q000139:chemically induced*; D013961:Thyroid Gland / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000503:physiopathology*; D014481:United States
chemical_list: D002722:Chlorobenzenes; D002733:Chlorophenols; C056892:2,5-dichlorophenol; C018511:4-dichlorobenzene
keywords: 2,5-dichlorophenol; adolescents; hypothyroidism; para-dichlorobenzene; thyroid measures