RT Journal Article
SR Electronic
T1 Effects of PCBs, p,p′-DDT, p,p′-DDE, HCB and β-HCH on thyroid function in preschool children
JF Occupational and Environmental Medicine
JO Occup Environ Med
FD BMJ Publishing Group Ltd
SP 452
OP 457
DO 10.1136/oem.2007.032763
VO 65
IS 7
A1 M Álvarez-Pedrerol
A1 N Ribas-Fitó
A1 M Torrent
A1 D Carrizo
A1 J O Grimalt
A1 J Sunyer
YR 2008
UL http://oem.bmj.com/content/65/7/452.abstract
AB 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.