Association between serum polybrominated diphenyl ethers, new flame retardants and thyroid hormone levels for school students near a petrochemical complex, South China

As surrogates of polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs), new flame retardants (NFRs) include a series of chlorinated and brominated flame retardants. Though the NFRs are thought to induce similar thyroid hormone (TH) disrupting effects as PBDEs, few studies have focused on them. Given the increasing levels of NFRs in the environment, more in depth investigation of the potential TH disrupting effects of NFRs is warranted. This research involved a health survey to collect data and examine the associations between PBDEs, NFRs and TH. 174 school students lived near a petrochemical complex in South China participated in the survey, completing questionnaires and providing blood samples. Thirteen congeners of PBDEs, eight species of NFRs, TH and thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH) were measured. The median levels of Sigma PBDE (sum of thirteen congeners of PBDEs) and Sigma NFR (sum of eight species of NFRs) for students were 140 and 240 ng g(-1) lipid, respectively. Nonmonotonic relationships were observed between quartile levels of PBDEs, NFRs and corresponding TH. In contrast to Sigma PBDE that was positively associated with triidothyrine (T-3) level, Sigma NFR was not statistically associated with TH. Sigma PBDE + NFR (sum of thirteen congeners of PBDEs and eight species of NFRs) was significantly associated with T-3 level. (C) 2018 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.