Exposure to polychlorinated biphenyls and the thyroid gland – examining and discussing possible longitudinal health effects in humans

• Published in: Environmental research Vol. 148; pp. 112 - 121
• Main Authors: Gaum, Petra M., Lang, Jessica, Esser, André, Schettgen, Thomas, Neulen, Joseph, Kraus, Thomas, Gube, Monika
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Netherlands Elsevier Inc 01-07-2016
• Subjects: Adult; Aged; Aged, 80 and over; ANTIBODIES; Autoantibodies - blood; BIPHENYL; Environmental Monitoring; Environmental Pollutants - blood; ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES; Female; Humans; Immunoglobulins, Thyroid-Stimulating - blood; Longitudinal data; Male; Middle Aged; Mixed model; MORPHOLOGICAL CHANGES; PEROXIDASES; POLYCHLORINATED BIPHENYLS; Polychlorinated Biphenyls - blood; Thyroglobulin - blood; Thyroglobulin - immunology; THYROID; Thyroid antibodies; Thyroid Gland - diagnostic imaging; Thyroid hormones; Thyrotropin - blood; THYROXINE; Thyroxine - blood; Triiodothyronine - blood; TSH; Ultrasonography; Young Adult; T4; TSHRab; PCBs; rs; ThV; LPCBs; fT3; fT4; t1–t4; Thyroid antibodies; TSH; Longitudinal data; rT3; TPOab; TGab; NTIS; Mixed model; HPCBs; dlPCBs; Polychlorinated biphenyls; D1–D3; Thyroid hormones; T3
• ISSN: 0013-9351; 1096-0953
• DOI: 10.1016/j.envres.2016.03.022

Many previous studies have dealt with the effect of polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) on the thyroid gland, but their findings are inconsistent. One problem of these studies has been their use of cross-sectional designs.
The aim of the current study is to investigate longitudinal effects of PCBs on the thyroid gland, focusing on: morphological changes in thyroid tissue (i.e. thyroid volume), changes in thyroid hormones and in thyroid antibodies.
A total of 122 individuals (Mage=44.7) were examined over a period of four years (t1 until t4). Medical history was collected via interviews, an ultrasound examination was performed and blood samples were taken to determine plasma PCB levels, thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH), free triiodthyronine (fT3), free thyroxine (fT4), thyroid peroxidase antibodies (TPOab), thyreoglobulin antibodies (TGab) and thyroid-stimulating hormone receptor antibodies (TSHRab). Rank correlation coefficients and mixed effect models were performed controlling for age and total lipids.
There were negative correlations between higher chlorinated biphenyls and fT3, cross-sectionally as well as longitudinally. We also found an interaction effect of higher-chlorinated PCBs over time for fT4 as well as TSHRab. In case of high exposure, a decrease in fT4 and an increase in TSHRab level were found over time. In regards to the other variables, our findings yielded no clear results in the examined time period.
This is the first study to shows a PCB-related effect on fT3, fT4 and TSHRab over a four year period. The data also suggest that morphological and antibody findings remain inconsistent and do not allow for unambiguous interpretation.
•This is a longitudinal study which includes data from four cross sections.•Higher-chlorinated biphenyls are negatively correlated with fT3.•There are interactions of time and higher-chlorinated biphenyls to TSHRab and fT4.•There is an interaction of time and dioxin-like polychlorinated biphenyls to fT4.•No consistent effects were found for thyroid volume, TSH, TPOab and TGab.