- Full (HTML) - Related EHP Articles - PubMed:Related Articles - PubMed:Citation - Cited in PMC - Purchase This Issue

Nadia Osius,¹ Wilfried Karmaus,² Hermann Kruse,³ and Jutta Witten⁴

¹NORDIG Institute for Health Research and Prevention, Hamburg, Germany
²Department of Epidemiology, Michigan State University, East Lansing, Michigan, USA
³Institute of Toxicology, Christian-Albrecht University, Kiel, Germany
⁴Ministry of Environment, Energy, Youth, Family and Health Hessen, Wiesbaden, Germany

Abstract

As part of an epidemiologic study on exposure to a toxic waste incineration plant we investigated whether blood concentrations of polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) , lead, and cadmium, as well as concentration of mercury in 24-hr urine samples were associated with thyroid hormone status. As an indication of status, we determined levels of thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH) , free thyroxine (FT₄) , and free triiodothyronine (FT₃) in children living in households where 10 cigarettes were smoked per day. Eight PCB congeners (PCBs 101, 118, 138, 153, 170, 180, 183, and 187) were measured in whole blood samples. Of these, seven congeners (PCB 101 was not detected in any sample) and the sum of all PCB congeners were analyzed as predictors for thyroid hormone status in separate linear regression models adjusted for potential confounders. In addition, the possible effects of cadmium, lead, and mercury on levels of thyroid hormones were examined. Blood concentrations and information on questionnaire data were available for 320 children 7-10 years of age. We found a statistically significant positive association between the mono-ortho congener PCB 118 and TSH as well as statistically significant negative relationships of PCBs 138, 153, 180, 183, and 187 to FT₃. There was no association for the PCB congeners and FT₄. Blood cadmium concentration was associated with increasing TSH and diminishing FT₄. Blood lead and urine concentration of mercury were of no importance to thyroid hormone levels. The results stress the need for future studies on the possible influences of PCB and cadmium exposure on thyroid hormones, particularly in children. These studies should also take neurologic development into account. Key words: cadmium, children, lead, mercury, PCB, thyroid, thyroxine, triiodothyronine, TSH, waste incinerator. Environ Health Perspect 107:843-849 (1999) . [Online 13 September 1999]

http://ehpnet1.niehs.nih.gov/docs/1999/107p843-849osius/ abstract.html

Address correspondence to N. Osius, Jean-Paul-Weg 15, 22303 Hamburg, Germany. Telephone: 49 040 27 75 60. Fax: 49 040 27 75 60. E-mail: NOsius@t-online.de

The study was authorized and supported by the Ministry of Environment, Energy, Youth, Family and Health, Hessen, Germany. We thank E.W. Rauterberg (Medical, Alimentary and Veterinary Institute for Research, Middle Hessen, Division Human Medicine, Dillenburg, Germany) for the analyses of thyroid hormones.

Received 29 March 1999 ; accepted 22 June 1999.