Serum Polybrominated Biphenyls (PBBs) and Polychlorinated Biphenyls (PCBs) and Thyroid Function among Michigan Adults Several Decades after the 1973-1974 PBB Contamination of Livestock Feed

Abstract

Background: In 1973-1974, Michigan residents were exposed to polybrominated biphenyls (PBBs) through an accidental contamination of the food supply. Residents were enrolled in a registry assembled after the incident, and they and their children participated in follow-up studies to assess subsequent health outcomes.

Objectives: We evaluated associations between serum PBBs and polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) and markers of thyroid function among Michigan adults.

Methods: Serum concentrations of four PBB and four PCB congeners were measured at least once in 753 adults, including 79 women who participated in a 2004-2006 study and 683 women and men with follow-up during 2012-2015. Participants completed questionnaires on health conditions (including physician-diagnosed thyroid disease), behaviors, and demographics. Thyroid hormones were measured in a subset without thyroid disease (n=551). In multivariable linear regression models, PBB and PCB congener concentrations, on both the volume (nanogram/milliliter) and lipid (nanogram/gram lipid) basis, were assessed in relation to thyroid hormones. Logistic regression models were used to estimate associations between serum PBBs and PCBs and thyroid disease.

Results: Thyroid disease was common (18% overall; 25% among women). Among women, all odds ratios (ORs) for PBB-153 and thyroid disease were positive for quintiles above the reference level, but estimates were imprecise and were without a monotonic increase. For an interquartile range (IQR) increase in PBB-153 (0.43 ng/mL), the OR (any thyroid disease)=1.12; (95% CI: 0.83, 1.52) (n=105 cases); for hypothyroidism, OR=1.35 (95% CI: 0.86, 2.13) (n=49 cases). There were 21 cases of thyroid disease in men [OR=0.69 (95% CI: 0.33); 1.44 for an IQR increase (0.75 ng/mL) in serum PBB-153]. PCB congeners were statistically significantly associated with greater total and free thyroxine and total triiodothyronine among women and with total and free triiodothyronine among men in lipid-standardized models.

Conclusions: We found some evidence to support associations of PBBs and PCBs with thyroid disease and thyroid hormone levels. https://doi.org/10.1289/EHP1302.

Figure 1.

$\mathrm{\beta }-\text{Coefficients}$ and 95% confidence intervals (95% CIs) from regression models for associations of PBB-153, PCB-118, and $\mathrm{\Sigma }\text{PCB}$ (di-ortho) deciles (nanograms/milliliter) with thyroid hormones stratified by sex. (A) PBB-153; (B) PCB-118; (C) $\mathrm{\Sigma }\text{PCB}$ (di-ortho). Note: D2–10, deciles 2–10; Ref, reference (decile 1); T4, thyroxine; T3, triiodothyronine; TSH: thyroid-stimulating hormone. All models adjusted for lipids, age, time of blood collection, and current smoking status (See S9 and S10 for $\mathrm{\beta }-\text{coefficients}$ and 95% CIs.) Sum of PCB 138, 153, and 180. (See the footnotes of Tables S9 and S10 for interpretations of $\mathrm{\beta }-\text{coefficients}$.) Black circles denote women, and white circles denote men.

Figure 1.

$\mathrm{\beta }-\text{Coefficients}$ and 95% confidence intervals (95% CIs) from regression models for associations of PBB-153, PCB-118, and $\mathrm{\Sigma }\text{PCB}$ (di-ortho) deciles (nanograms/milliliter) with thyroid hormones stratified by sex. (A) PBB-153; (B) PCB-118; (C) $\mathrm{\Sigma }\text{PCB}$ (di-ortho). Note: D2–10, deciles 2–10; Ref, reference (decile 1); T4, thyroxine; T3, triiodothyronine; TSH: thyroid-stimulating hormone. All models adjusted for lipids, age, time of blood collection, and current smoking status (See S9 and S10 for $\mathrm{\beta }-\text{coefficients}$ and 95% CIs.) Sum of PCB 138, 153, and 180. (See the footnotes of Tables S9 and S10 for interpretations of $\mathrm{\beta }-\text{coefficients}$.) Black circles denote women, and white circles denote men.

Figure 1.

$\mathrm{\beta }-\text{Coefficients}$ and 95% confidence intervals (95% CIs) from regression models for associations of PBB-153, PCB-118, and $\mathrm{\Sigma }\text{PCB}$ (di-ortho) deciles (nanograms/milliliter) with thyroid hormones stratified by sex. (A) PBB-153; (B) PCB-118; (C) $\mathrm{\Sigma }\text{PCB}$ (di-ortho). Note: D2–10, deciles 2–10; Ref, reference (decile 1); T4, thyroxine; T3, triiodothyronine; TSH: thyroid-stimulating hormone. All models adjusted for lipids, age, time of blood collection, and current smoking status (See S9 and S10 for $\mathrm{\beta }-\text{coefficients}$ and 95% CIs.) Sum of PCB 138, 153, and 180. (See the footnotes of Tables S9 and S10 for interpretations of $\mathrm{\beta }-\text{coefficients}$.) Black circles denote women, and white circles denote men.