Perchlorate exposure and thyroid function in ammonium perchlorate workers in Yicheng, China

The impact of low level dust on the thyroid function of workers chronically exposed to ammonium perchlorate (AP) is uncertain and controversial. The aim of this study was to examine whether workers in China with long-term (>3 years) occupational exposure to low levels of AP dust had affected thyr...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:International journal of environmental research and public health 2014-05, Vol.11 (5), p.4926-4938
Main Authors: Chen, Hongxia, Wu, Libing, Wang, Xia, Liu, Qin, Ding, Miaohong, Peng, Kailiang, Meng, Zhongji
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Adult
Air Pollutants, Occupational - toxicity
Biomarkers - analysis
Biomarkers - urine
Case Report
China
Chromatography, Liquid
Cross-Sectional Studies
Dust - analysis
Female
Homeostasis
Humans
Male
Middle Aged
Occupational Exposure
Perchlorates - analysis
Perchlorates - toxicity
Perchlorates - urine
Quaternary Ammonium Compounds - analysis
Quaternary Ammonium Compounds - toxicity
Quaternary Ammonium Compounds - urine
Tandem Mass Spectrometry
Thyroid Function Tests
Thyroid Gland - drug effects
Thyroid Gland - physiology
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Summary:The impact of low level dust on the thyroid function of workers chronically exposed to ammonium perchlorate (AP) is uncertain and controversial. The aim of this study was to examine whether workers in China with long-term (>3 years) occupational exposure to low levels of AP dust had affected thyroid homeostasis. Mean occupational exposures to AP dust ranged from 0.43 to 1.17 mg/m3. Geometric means of post-shift urinary perchlorate levels were 20.5 µg/L for those exposed and 12.8 µg/L for the controls. No significant differences were found for thyroid function parameters of FT3, FT4, or log TSH or for TPO prevalence or thyroglobulin levels. Additionally, no differences in findings were observed for complete blood count (CBC), serum biochemical profile, or pulmonary function test. Median urinary iodine levels of 172 and 184 µg/L showed that the workers had sufficient iodine intake. This study found no effect on thyroid function from long term, low-level documented exposure to ammonium perchlorate. It is the first study to report both thyroid status parameters and urinary perchlorate, a biomarker of internal perchlorate exposure, in occupationally exposed workers in China.
ISSN:1660-4601
1661-7827
1660-4601
DOI:10.3390/ijerph110504926