Publication
Title
Association of exposure to perfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) and phthalates with thyroid hormones in adolescents from HBM4EU aligned studies
Author
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 & REG; 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 & REG; metabolites (EDEHP, EDiNP, and EDINCH) were associated with higher FT4; EDEHP with lower FT3; and the phthalate/DINCH & REG; 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 EDiNP were associated with higher FT4; and MBzP, EDEHP, and the phthalate/DINCH & REG; 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.
Language
English
Source (journal)
Environmental research. - Amsterdam, 1967, currens
Publication
Amsterdam : Elsevier , 2023
ISSN
0013-9351 [print]
1096-0953 [online]
DOI
10.1016/J.ENVRES.2023.116897
Volume/pages
237 :1 (2023) , p. 1-11
Article Reference
116897
ISI
001069056100001
Pubmed ID
37598845
Medium
E-only publicatie
Full text (Publisher's DOI)
Full text (open access)
UAntwerpen
Faculty/Department
Research group
Project info
European Human Biomonitoring Iniative (HBM4EU).
European Human Biomonitoring Iniative (HBM4EU).
European Human Biomonitoring Iniative (HBM4EU).
Publication type
Subject
Affiliation
Publications with a UAntwerp address
External links
Web of Science
Record
Identifier
Creation 30.10.2023
Last edited 01.07.2024
To cite this reference