Organochlorine compounds, iodine intake, and thyroid hormone levels during pregnancy

Environ Sci Technol. 2009 Oct 15;43(20):7909-15. doi: 10.1021/es9007273.

Abstract

The effect of organochlorine compounds (OCs) on thyroid function, as well as the potential confounding effect of iodine intake, was studied in a large sample of pregnant women from two population-based cohort studies in Sabadell (n = 520) and Gipuzkoa (n = 570), Spain. Thyroid hormones (free T4 and total T3), thyrotropin, and polychlorinated biphenyls (PCB congeners 118, 138, 153, and 180), hexachlorobenzene (HCB), beta-hexachlorocyclohexane (beta-HCH), dichlorodiphenyl dichloroethylene (p'p'-DDE) and dichlorodiphenyl richloroethane (p'p-DDT) were measured in serum samples collected at first trimester of pregnancy. Urinary iodine concentration (UIC) was measured and iodine intake from diet, iodized salt, and supplements were estimated from a food frequency questionnaire. Levels of HCB and PCBs congeners 180, 153, and 138 were related to lowe rtotal T3 levels (adjusted coefficient (SE): -4.0(1.1), -6.1(1.6), -5.5(1.6), and 3.8(1.4), respectively) and higher free T4 levels (adjusted coefficient (SE): 0.013(0.05), 0.017(0.007), 0.016(0.007), and 0.007(0.006), respectively). These associations were homogeneous in both cohorts, especially for PCBs and total T3 (p-value forthe interaction between cohorts >0.8). Iodine intake and UIC did not affect the association between OCs and thyroid hormones. Our results indicate that exposure to OCs during pregnancy can alter TH levels.

Publication types

  • Multicenter Study
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Cohort Studies
  • Cross-Sectional Studies
  • Environmental Exposure
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Hydrocarbons, Chlorinated / adverse effects*
  • Iodine / administration & dosage*
  • Pregnancy / blood*
  • Thyrotropin / blood*
  • Triiodothyronine / blood*

Substances

  • Hydrocarbons, Chlorinated
  • Triiodothyronine
  • Thyrotropin
  • Iodine