A new study points out that chemical like phthalates and bisphenol-A (BPA) found in solvents, plastics and other household products, to which we are inadvertently exposed in our day to day life, may affect the levels of thyroid hormone in our body. The study which appears online Jul 11, 2011 in the journal “Environmental Health Perspectives” utilized data from the U.S. National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey for the research. The study was done on 1,346 adults and 329 teenagers in which the level of thyroid hormone and traces of phthalates and BPA in urine samples. The researchers from the University of Michigan School of Public Health who were involved in the study found that the greater the exposure to phthalates and BPA, the lower the thyroid hormone levels. Exposure to DEHP, a phthalate commonly used in plastic bottles was the most associated with lower levels of thyroid hormone. The urine samples of the participants showed that the greatest exposure to DEHP resulted in almost 10% reduction in the levels of thyroid hormone.
Thyroid hormone plays a crucial role in the growth, reproduction and metabolism of the body. The most affected by changes in the level of thyroid hormone are the growing fetus and small children. Exposure to environmental chemicals can reduce their levels of thyroid hormone and can result in physical and mental retardation.
However, Dr. John Meeker, the lead author of the study acknowledges the fact that the effect of these chemicals is very subtle. Otherwise we would have faced far more thyroid patients than we do in our daily practice. He also conceded that the results of the study can be further improved upon by following the participants over a longer period of time and collecting several urine samples from each participant. This is because the chemicals get metabolized very quickly and just one sample may not give accurate result. The affect of chemicals on pregnancy outcomes and child development also needs to be studied in greater details.
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