Maternal Polybrominated Diphenyl Ether (PBDE) Exposure and Thyroid Hormones in Maternal and Cord Sera: The HOME Study, Cincinnati, USA

Ann M Vuong, Glenys M Webster, Megan E Romano, Joseph M Braun, R Thomas Zoeller, Andrew N Hoofnagle, Andreas Sjödin, Kimberly Yolton, Bruce P Lanphear, Aimin Chen, Ann M Vuong, Glenys M Webster, Megan E Romano, Joseph M Braun, R Thomas Zoeller, Andrew N Hoofnagle, Andreas Sjödin, Kimberly Yolton, Bruce P Lanphear, Aimin Chen

Abstract

Background: Polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs) reduce blood concentrations of thyroid hormones in laboratory animals, but it is unclear whether PBDEs disrupt thyroid hormones in pregnant women or newborn infants.

Objectives: We investigated the relationship between maternal PBDE levels and thyroid hormone concentrations in maternal and cord sera.

Methods: We used data from the Health Outcomes and Measures of the Environment (HOME)Study, a prospective birth cohort of 389 pregnant women in Cincinnati, Ohio, who were enrolled from 2003 through 2006 and delivered singleton infants. Maternal serum PBDE concentrations were measured at enrollment (16 ± 3 weeks of gestation). Thyroid hormone concentrations were measured in maternal serum at enrollment (n = 187) and in cord serum samples (n = 256).

Results: Median maternal serum concentrations of BDEs 28 and 47 were 1.0 and 19.1 ng/g lipid, respectively. A 10-fold increase in BDEs 28 and 47 concentrations was associated with a 0.85-μg/dL [95% confidence interval (CI): 0.05, 1.64] and 0.82-μg/dL (95% CI: 0.12, 1.51) increase in maternal total thyroxine concentrations (TT4), respectively. Both congeners were also positively associated with maternal free thyroxine (FT4). We also observed positive associations between BDE-47 and maternal total and free triiodothyronine (TT3 and FT3). A 10-fold increase in BDE-28 was associated with elevated FT3 concentrations (β = 0.14 pg/mL; 95% CI: 0.02, 0.26). In contrast, maternal PBDE levels were not associated with thyroid hormone concentrations in cord serum.

Conclusions: These findings suggest that maternal PBDE exposure, particularly BDEs 28 and 47, are associated with maternal concentrations of T4 and T3 during pregnancy.

Conflict of interest statement

The findings and conclusions in this report are those of the authors and do not necessarily represent the official position of the NIEHS/NIH or the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

B.P.L. has served as an expert witness and as a consultant to the California Attorney General’s Office, but has not personally received compensation for these services. B.P.L. also has served as a paid consultant on a U.S. Environmental Protection Agency research study and to the California Department of Toxic Substance Control. J.M.B. was financially compensated for conducting a reanalysis of the international pooled study of lead exposure for the plaintiffs in a public nuisance case. The other authors declare they have no actual or potential competing financial interests.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
β-coefficients and 95% CIs from regression models for associations of BDE-28 and BDE-47 (ng/g lipid) quartiles and maternal thyroid hormones. All models adjusted for maternal age, race/ethnicity, education, parity, family income, smoking status, alcohol consumption, gestational age at serum collection, and total serum PCB concentrations. p-Value for trend was obtained by using the median value in each quartile as a continuous variable in the linear regression models.

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