The different projects within MiSSE, i.e. the reviews, chemical analysis and in silico modelling led up to the formulation of complex chemical mixtures, corresponding to the levels found in household dust and exposure to human (adults and infants) in Sweden. The chemicals have been tested both individually and in the mixtures for their binding to the thyroid hormone transport protein transthyretin (TTR).
A summary of the article is given in a press release at VU university. The findings are of concern as they show that these 25 tested thyroid hormone disrupting compounds could theoretically alter the availability of the natural hormone Thyroxine (T4) by up to 5%. This could especially be of importance for pregnant women as the fetus completely depends on the maternal supply of thyroid hormones during the first trimester of pregnancy. A balanced thyroid hormone supply is important for the brain development of the fetus, and a deficiency during pregnancy may lead to decreased cognitive functions in the child after birth.
In addition, here we tested a mixture of only 25 dust relevant thyroid hormone disrupting chemicals. We know that we are exposed to a far more complex soup of chemicals that could interfere with our endocrine system.
You can find the full article in Environmental Health Perspectives, Vol. 128, No. 1.
