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Author Spotlight: In Vivo Assessment of Thyroid Hormone Disruption Using the THAI Mouse Model
Published on: October 6, 2023
Low-Dose Occupational Exposure to Nickel and Thyroid Hormones
Carlo Monti1, Grazia Giammichele, Vittorio Antuono
1From the SiPro Srl-Sicurezza e produttività nel lavoro, Rome, Italy (Dr Giammichele, Dr Antuono, Dr Loreti, Dr F. Tomei, Dr De Marco, Dr Massimi, Dr Marchione, and Dr Suppi); Department of Anatomy, Histology, Medical-Legal and the Orthopedics, Specialty School of Occupational Medicine, Unit of Occupational Medicine (Dr Ricci), and Department of Human Neurosciences (Dr G. Tomei), University of Rome "Sapienza," Rome, Italy; Croce Rossa Italiana-Italian Red Cross (Dr Monti), Rome, Italy.
Introduction:
The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of a low-dose exposure to nickel, as it is present in urban air, on thyroid hormones and on thyrotropin in outdoor workers exposed to urban pollutants.
Materials And Methods:
A total of 164 outdoor workers were studied and divided by sex and smoking habit. Each worker underwent measurement of urinary nickel and of blood triiodothyronine, L-thyroxine, and thyrotropin levels. The statistical analysis was performed.
Results:
Statistical analysis shows a significant and positive correlation between urinary nickel and L-thyroxine, both in total sample and in males.
Discussion And Conclusion:
The study suggests that occupational exposure to a low dose of nickel may affect thyroid function in municipal police workers. These data may provide information on other categories of outdoor workers with similar exposure.
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