Association of exposure to polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons and heavy metals with thyroid hormones in general adult population and potential mechanisms
- Authors
- Kim, Min Joo; Kim, Sunmi; Choi, Sohyeon; Lee, Inae; Moon, Min Kyong; Choi, Kyungho; Park, Young Joo; Cho, Yoon Hee; Kwon, Young Min; Yoo, Jiyoung; Cheon, Gi Jeong; Park, Jeongim
- Issue Date
- 25-Mar-2021
- Publisher
- Elsevier BV
- Keywords
- Cadmium; Iodothyronine deiodinase; Lead; Mercury; Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons; Thyroid hormones
- Citation
- Science of the Total Environment, v.762
- Journal Title
- Science of the Total Environment
- Volume
- 762
- URI
- https://scholarworks.bwise.kr/sch/handle/2021.sw.sch/18935
- DOI
- 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2020.144227
- ISSN
- 0048-9697
1879-1026
- Abstract
- Air pollution and fuel emissions are the common sources of human exposure to polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) and heavy metals. Several studies have suggested potential associations between PAHs/heavy metals and thyroid hormones, however, reports have been inconsistent. In this study, we employed a subpopulation of the adults (n = 1254) who participated in the Korean National Environmental Health Survey 2015-2017, and investigated the association of PAHs and major heavy metals with thyroid hormones, and explored the underlying mechanisms of thyroid disruption. Four PAH metabolites and three heavy metals of lead (Pb), mercury (Hg), and cadmium (Cd) were measured either in urine Of in total blood. In addition, thyroid hormones (T3 and T4), TSH, thyroxine-binding globulin (TBG), and thyroid autoantibodies were measured, and peripheral deiodinase activity (G(D)) and thyroid's secretory capacity (G(T)) were calculated. Urinary Hg was negatively associated with total T3 in both males and females, while it was positively associated with total T4 among females only. Urinary Hg was related to decreased G(D) and increased G(T) in both sexes. In contrast, urinary Cd was positively associated with total T3 and G(D) in both male and female populations. Urinary Cd also showed a positive association with thyroid autoantibodies, but only in males. A multi-factor model considering co-exposure to multiple chemicals also resulted in similar associations. Among the measured PAH metabolites, only urinary 1-hyclroxypyrene showed a negative association with total T3 in males. However, this association was marginal, and disappeared in a multi-chemical model. The present observations are suggestive that exposures to Hg and Cd might disrupt thyroid hormones, possibly through an alteration of deiodinase activity. Association of PAH exposure with thyroid hormone appears to be insignificant. (C) 2020 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.
- Files in This Item
- There are no files associated with this item.
- Appears in
Collections - College of Natural Sciences > Department of Environmental Health Science > 1. Journal Articles
Items in ScholarWorks are protected by copyright, with all rights reserved, unless otherwise indicated.