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Occup Environ Med 2008;65:452-457 doi:10.1136/oem.2007.032763
  • Original article

Effects of PCBs, p,p′-DDT, p,p′-DDE, HCB and β-HCH on thyroid function in preschool children

  1. M Álvarez-Pedrerol1,
  2. N Ribas-Fitó1,
  3. M Torrent2,
  4. D Carrizo3,
  5. J O Grimalt3,
  6. J Sunyer1,4
  1. 1
    Centre for Research in Environmental Epidemiology- IMIM, Barcelona, Spain
  2. 2
    Primary Health Care Center of Maó, Menorca, Spain
  3. 3
    Department of Environmental Chemistry, Institute of Chemical and Environmental Research (IIQAB-CSIC), Barcelona, Spain
  4. 4
    Pompeu Fabra University, Barcelona, Spain
  1. Mar Alvarez-Pedrerol, Centre for Research in Environmental Epidemiology- IMIM, C. Doctor Aiguader 88, 08003 Barcelona, Spain; malvarez1{at}imim.es
  • Accepted 28 September 2007
  • Published Online First 12 October 2007

Abstract

Objective: Several studies have shown that some organochlorine compounds (OCs) can interfere with the thyroid system. As thyroid hormones (THs) are essential for normal brain development, it is important to study the association between THs and OCs during pregnancy and childhood. We have evaluated the relationship between thyroid function and OCs in preschool children.

Methods: Children from a general population birth cohort in Menorca (n = 259), Spain were assessed at the age of 4 years. Concentrations of THs (free T4 and total T3), thyrotropin (TSH) and a range of OCs were measured in peripheral blood.

Results: Blood levels of dichlorodiphenyl trichloroethane (p,p′-DDT), β-hexachlorocylcohexane (β-HCH), polychlorinated biphenyls (congeners PCB-138, PCB-153 and PCB-118) were related to lower total T3 levels (p<0.05). In addition, free T4 was inversely associated with PCB-118, while no relationship was found between TSH and any of the measured OCs.

Conclusions: This study suggests that even at background levels of exposure, OCs may affect the thyroid system, particularly total T3 levels.

Footnotes

  • Funding: This study was funded by grants from the Spanish Ministry of Health (FIS-97/1102 and FIS-PI041436), Instituto de Salud Carlos III (Red RCESP C03/09, INMA G03/176 and CB06/02/0041), “Fundació La Caixa” (97/009-00 and 00/077-00) and the Generalitat de Catalunya (CIRIT 1999SGR 00241).

  • Competing interests: None.

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