Serum Polybrominated Biphenyls (PBBs) and Polychlorinated Biphenyls (PCBs) and Thyroid Function Among Michigan Adults Several Decades After the 1973–1974 PBB Contamination of Livestock Feed

Details

• Personal Author:
  Barr DB ; Conneely KN ; Darrow LA ; Howards PP ; Jacobson MH ; Lyles RH ; Marcus M ; Marder ME ; Smith, Adam K. ; Terrell ML
• Description:
  Background:In 1973-1974, Michigan residents were exposed to polybrominated biphenyls (PBBs) through an accidental contamination of the food supply. Residents were enrolled in a registry assembled after the incident, and they and their children participated in follow-up studies to assess subsequent health outcomes.Objectives:We evaluated associations between serum PBBs and polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) and markers of thyroid function among Michigan adults.Methods:Serum concentrations of four PBB and four PCB congeners were measured at least once in 753 adults, including 79 women who participated in a 2004-2006 study and 683 women and men with follow-up during 2012-2015. Participants completed questionnaires on health conditions (including physician-diagnosed thyroid disease), behaviors, and demographics. Thyroid hormones were measured in a subset without thyroid disease (n=551). In multivariable linear regression models, PBB and PCB congener concentrations, on both the volume (nanogram/milliliter) and lipid (nanogram/gram lipid) basis, were assessed in relation to thyroid hormones. Logistic regression models were used to estimate associations between serum PBBs and PCBs and thyroid disease.Results:Thyroid disease was common (18% overall; 25% among women). Among women, all odds ratios (ORs) for PBB-153 and thyroid disease were positive for quintiles above the reference level, but estimates were imprecise and were without a monotonic increase. For an interquartile range (IQR) increase in PBB-153 (0.43?ng/mL), the OR (any thyroid disease)=1.12; (95% CI: 0.83, 1.52) (n=105 cases); for hypothyroidism, OR=1.35 (95% CI: 0.86, 2.13) (n=49 cases). There were 21 cases of thyroid disease in men [OR=0.69 (95% CI: 0.33); 1.44 for an IQR increase (0.75 ng/mL) in serum PBB-153]. PCB congeners were statistically significantly associated with greater total and free thyroxine and total triiodothyronine among women and with total and free triiodothyronine among men in lipid-standardized models.Conclusions:We found some evidence to support associations of PBBs and PCBs with thyroid disease and thyroid hormone levels. [Description provided by NIOSH]
• Subjects:
  Endocrine System Occupational Health Polychlorinated Biphenyls Safety
• Keywords:
  Contaminated Food Food Contaminants Hormone Activity Hormones PCBs Polychlorinated Biphenyls Thyroid Gland Disorders
• ISSN:
  0091-6765
• Document Type:
  Text
• Funding:
  Grant
• Genre:
  Journal Article
• Place as Subject:
  Georgia ; Nevada ; OSHA Region 4 ; OSHA Region 9
• CIO:
  National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH)
• Topic:
  Workplace Safety & Health
• Location:
  North America
• Volume:
  125
• Issue:
  9
• NIOSHTIC Number:
  nn:20050476
• Citation:
  Environ Health Perspect 2017 Sep; 125(9):097020
• Contact Point Address:
  M.H. Jacobson,1518 Clifton Rd .NE ,CNR, 3rd Floor, Atlanta, GA 30322
• Email:
  mhymanjacobson@emory.edu
• Federal Fiscal Year:
  2017
• Performing Organization:
  Emory University, Atlanta
• Peer Reviewed:
  True
• Start Date:
  20050701
• Source Full Name:
  Environmental Health Perspectives
• End Date:
  20180630
• Collection(s):
  National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health
• Main Document Checksum:
  urn:sha-512:5cfb30d69a8fa264ef4afcb7bcc37065151bb0e7644a88dd14ff9110e215e457c52d89ba837ef66648f96ddb0e9937ebf128db573a0a5127569eb403bcbe76c2
• Download URL:
  https://stacks.cdc.gov/view/cdc/210801/cdc_210801_DS1.pdf
• File Type:
  [PDF - 563.83 KB ]