Plasma polybrominated diphenyl ethers, urinary heavy metals and the risk of thyroid cancer: A case-control study in China

Qian Zhang; Mingjun Hu; Huabing Wu; Qingshan Niu; Xuelei Lu; Jialiu He; Fen Huang

doi:10.1016/j.envpol.2020.116162

Plasma polybrominated diphenyl ethers, urinary heavy metals and the risk of thyroid cancer: A case-control study in China

Environ Pollut. 2021 Jan 15:269:116162. doi: 10.1016/j.envpol.2020.116162. Epub 2020 Nov 26.

Authors

Qian Zhang¹, Mingjun Hu², Huabing Wu², Qingshan Niu², Xuelei Lu², Jialiu He², Fen Huang³

Affiliations

¹ Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, School of Public Health, Anhui Medical University, Hefei, Anhui, 230032, China; Department of Epidemiology and Health Statistics, School of Public Health, Fujian Medical University, Fuzhou, Fujian, 350122, China.
² Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, School of Public Health, Anhui Medical University, Hefei, Anhui, 230032, China.
³ Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, School of Public Health, Anhui Medical University, Hefei, Anhui, 230032, China; Laboratory for Environmental Toxicology, Anhui Medical University, Hefei, Anhui, 230032, China. Electronic address: fenh@ahmu.edu.cn.

PMID: 33303234
DOI: 10.1016/j.envpol.2020.116162

Abstract

The incidence of thyroid cancer (TC) has increased rapidly worldwide in recent years. Exposure to endocrine disruptors can affect thyroid hormones and is probably carcinogenic to humans. The effects of polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs), some heavy metals (Cd, Pb, As and Hg) on risk of TC have been rarely reported. Hence, we aimed to examine the associations of TC risk with exposure to PBDEs and four heavy metals. This case-control study involved 308 TC cases and 308 age- and sex-matched controls. Plasma PBDEs concentrations were determined by gas chromatograph-mass spectrometry. Concentrations of heavy metals concentrations in urine specimens were detected by graphite furnace atomic absorption spectrometry or inductively coupled plasma optical emission spectrometry. Conditional logistic regression models were used to explore associations of PBDEs and 4 heavy metals exposures with TC risk. A joint-effect interaction term was inserted into the logistic regression models to assess the multiplicative interaction effects of PBDEs-heavy metals on TC risk. Some PBDE congeners (BDE-028, -047, -099, -183, -209) were positively correlated with TC risk. As and Hg were also associated with the increased TC risk. Compared with low exposure levels, participants with high exposure levels of As and Hg were 5.35 and 2.98 times more likely to have TC, respectively. Co-exposure to BDE-209 and Pb had a negative interaction effect on TC risk. Some PBDE congeners (e.g. BDE-028, -047, -209) and Hg had a significant positive interaction effect on the risk of TC. The joint exposure of BDE-183 and Hg showed a negative interaction effect on TC risk, but the corresponding OR value was still statistically significant. Exposure to PBDEs, As and Hg may be associated with TC development. Joint exposure to PBDEs and Pb or Hg has interaction effects on TC risk. Further prospective research with large sample is required to confirm these findings.

Keywords: Heavy metal; Interaction effect; Polybrominated diphenyl ethers; Thyroid cancer.

MeSH terms

Case-Control Studies
China / epidemiology
Halogenated Diphenyl Ethers
Humans
Metals, Heavy*
Plasma
Thyroid Neoplasms* / chemically induced
Thyroid Neoplasms* / epidemiology

Substances

Halogenated Diphenyl Ethers
Metals, Heavy