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Association of phthalate exposure with thyroid function during pregnancy
Arash Derakhshan1, Huan Shu2, Maarten A C Broeren3
1Academic Center for Thyroid Diseases, Erasmus MC, Dr. Molewaterplein 15, 3051 GE Rotterdam, the Netherlands; Department of Internal Medicine, Erasmus MC, Dr. Molewaterplein 15, 3051 GE Rotterdam, the Netherlands.
Environment International
|August 6, 2021
Summary
Maternal exposure to phthalates during pregnancy may disrupt thyroid function, impacting thyroid hormones like thyroxine and triiodothyronine. This study links specific phthalates to altered thyroid markers in pregnant women.
Area of Science:
- Environmental Health
- Endocrinology
- Reproductive Health
Background:
- The thyroid-disrupting effects of phthalates during pregnancy are not fully understood.
- Phthalates are common environmental chemicals with potential endocrine-disrupting properties.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the association between maternal urinary phthalate metabolites and thyroid hormone levels in early pregnancy.
- To assess the impact of phthalate exposure on thyroid function during a critical developmental period.
Main Methods:
- A population-based prospective cohort study including 1,996 pregnant women.
- Measurement of urinary phthalate metabolites and serum thyroid hormones: TSH, FT4, TT4, FT3, TT3.
- Analysis of associations between phthalate metabolite concentrations and thyroid hormone markers.
Main Results:
- Higher di-ethyl-hexyl phthalate (DEHP) metabolite levels were linked to lower free thyroxine (FT4) and higher TSH/FT4 ratio.
- Increased di-iso-nonyl phthalate (DINP) metabolites correlated with lower total thyroxine (TT4) and altered TT4/FT4 and TT4/TT3 ratios.
- Other phthalates (DBP, BBzP, DINCH) showed associations with changes in thyroid hormone ratios and TT3 levels.
Conclusions:
- Phthalate exposure during pregnancy may interfere with the maternal thyroid system.
- These findings support experimental evidence and highlight concerns for phthalates, including replacement compounds.
- Further research is needed to elucidate the mechanisms of phthalate-induced thyroid disruption in humans.
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