Association of exposure to perfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) and phthalates with thyroid hormones in adolescents from HBM4EU aligned studies
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Rodriguez-Carrillo, Andrea; Salamanca-Fernandez, Elena; den Hond, Elly; Verheyen, Veerle J.; Fábelová, Lucia; Murinova, Lubica Palkovicova; Pedraza-Díaz, Susana; Castaño, Argelia; García-Lario, Jose Vicente; Remy, Sylvie; Govarts, Eva; Schoeters, Greet; Olea Serrano, Nicolás; Freire, Carmen; Fernández Cabrera, Mariana FátimaEditorial
Elsevier
Materia
Perfluoroalkyl substances
Date
2023-08-19Referencia bibliográfica
Rodríguez-Carrillo A, Salamanca-Fernández E, den Hond E, Verheyen VJ, Fábelová L, Murinova LP, Pedraza-Díaz S, Castaño A, García-Lario JV, Remy S, Govarts E, Schoeters G, Olea N, Freire C, Fernández MF. Association of exposure to perfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) and phthalates with thyroid hormones in adolescents from HBM4EU aligned studies. Environ Res. 2023 Aug 19;237(Pt 1):116897. doi: 10.1016/j.envres.2023.116897. Epub ahead of print. PMID: 37598845.
Abstract
Background: Perfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) and phthalates are synthetic chemicals widely used in various
types of consumer products. There is epidemiological and experimental evidence that PFAS and phthalates may
alter thyroid hormone levels; however, studies in children and adolescents are limited.
Aim: To investigate the association of exposure to PFAS and phthalate with serum levels of thyroid hormones in
European adolescents.
Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted in 406 female and 327 male adolescents (14–17 years) from
Belgium, Slovakia, and Spain participating in the Aligned Studies of the HBM4EU Project (FLEHS IV, PCB cohort,
and BEA, respectively). Concentrations of perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA), perfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS),
perfluorononanoic acid (PFNA), free thyroxine (FT4), free triiodothyronine (FT3), and thyroid-stimulating
hormone (TSH) were measured in sera from study participants, and urinary metabolites of six phthalates
(DEP, DiBP, DnBP, BBzP, DEHP, and DiNP) and the non-phthalate plasticizer DINCH® were quantified in spot
urine samples. Associations were assessed with linear regression and g-computational models for mixtures. Effect
modification by sex was examined.
Results: In females, serum PFOA and the PFAS mixture concentrations were associated with lower FT4 and higher
FT3 levels; MEP and the sums of DEHP, DiNP, and DINCH® metabolites (
∑DEHP, ∑DiNP, and ∑DINCH) were
associated with higher FT4; ∑DEHP with lower FT3; and the phthalate/DINCH® metabolite mixture with higher
FT4 and lower FT3. In males, PFOA was associated with lower FT4 and the PFAS mixture with higher TSH levels
and lower FT4/TSH ratio; MEP and ∑DiNP were associated with higher FT4; and MBzP, ∑DEHP, and the
phthalate/DINCH® metabolite mixture with lower TSH and higher FT4/TSH. PFOA, mono-(2-ethyl-5-hydroxyhexyl) phthalate (OH-MEHP), mono-(2-ethyl-5-oxohexyl) phthalate (oxo-MEHP), and monocarboxyoctyl
phthalate (MCOP) made the greatest contribution to the mixture effect.
Conclusions: Results suggest that exposure to PFAS and phthalates is associated with sex-specific differences in
thyroid hormone levels in adolescents