Ann Pediatr Endocrinol Metab.  2017 Mar;22(1):6-14. 10.6065/apem.2017.22.1.6.

Perfluoroalkyl substances exposure and thyroid hormones in humans: epidemiological observations and implications

• Lee JE
• Choi K

• KMID: 2409794
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.6065/apem.2017.22.1.6

Abstract

Thyroid hormones play crucial roles in normal neurodevelopment of fetus and child. Many chemicals can affect control and homeostasis of thyroid hormones, and eventually lead to various adverse health effects including neurodevelopmental disorders. Perfluoroalkyl substances (PFASs) are among the thyroid disrupting chemicals that can be encountered among general human population. Due to their unique physicochemical characteristics, PFASs have been used as surfactants and surface coating materials in many applications. Therefore, PFASs have been frequently detected in humans and environment worldwide. In cross-sectional studies using nationally representative general human populations of United States, several PFASs have shown significant associations with thyroid hormones. Moreover, among pregnant women and their infants, not only major PFASs such as perfluorooctane sulfonic acid and perfluorooctanoic acid, but also those with shorter or longer carbon chains showed significant associations with thyroid hormones. Often demographic characteristics such as sex, age, and disease status appear to influence the associations between PFASs exposure and thyroid hormones. In general, major PFASs showed hypothyroidism effects among pregnant women and infants. As 8 carbon based PFASs have been phased out, those with shorter or longer carbon chains have been used in growing amount as replacement. However, only limited information is available for their occurrences and toxicity among humans. Further investigations on these substituting PFASs are required. In addition, efforts are warranted to identify sources of and mitigate exposure to these thyroid disrupting chemicals especially during pregnancy and early stages of life.

Keyword

Perfluoroalkyl substances; Biomonitoring; Thyroid; Disruption; population; Pregnant women

MeSH Terms

Carbon
Child
Cross-Sectional Studies
Environmental Monitoring
Female
Fetus
Homeostasis
Humans*
Hypothyroidism
Infant
Neurodevelopmental Disorders
Pregnancy
Pregnant Women
Surface-Active Agents
Thyroid Gland*
Thyroid Hormones*
United States
Carbon
Surface-Active Agents
Thyroid Hormones

Figure

• 

  Fig. 1 Structures of major perfluoralkyl substances. PFBA, perfluorobutanoic acid; PFPeA, perfluoropentanoic acid; PFHxS, perfluorohexane sulfonic acid; PFHpA, perfluoroheptanoic acid; PFOA, perfluorooctanoic acid; PFNA, perfluorononanoic acid; PFDA, perfluorodecanoic acid; PFDoDA, perfluorododecanoic acid; PFTrDA, perfluorotridecanoic acid; PFTeDA, perfluorotetradecanoic acid; PFBS, perfluorobutane sulfonic acid; PFOS, perfluorooctane sulfonic acid; PFDS, perfluorodecane sulfonic acid.

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