Associations Between Ambient PM<sub>2.5</sub> and Thyroid Hormones in Pregnant Persons in Puerto Rico
Introduction: This study investigates associations between fine particulate air pollution (PM<sub>2.5</sub>) exposure and thyroid hormone levels during pregnancy in Puerto Rican individuals, a vulnerable population facing socioeconomic and environmental disparities. Methods: This researc...
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2025-01-01
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| author | Trenton Honda Trenton D. Henry Laura Corlin Kipruto Kirwa Akram Alshawabkeh Julia R. Varshavsky Winston Kennedy José F. Cordero Carmen M. Velez Vega Zaira Y. Rosario Pabon John D. Meeker Helen Suh |
| author_facet | Trenton Honda Trenton D. Henry Laura Corlin Kipruto Kirwa Akram Alshawabkeh Julia R. Varshavsky Winston Kennedy José F. Cordero Carmen M. Velez Vega Zaira Y. Rosario Pabon John D. Meeker Helen Suh |
| author_sort | Trenton Honda |
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| description | Introduction: This study investigates associations between fine particulate air pollution (PM<sub>2.5</sub>) exposure and thyroid hormone levels during pregnancy in Puerto Rican individuals, a vulnerable population facing socioeconomic and environmental disparities. Methods: This research draws on data from the PROTECT cohort study and involves 1040 participants to measure the effect of PM<sub>2.5</sub> on developmentally important thyroid hormones (TSH, T3, T4, and FT4). Pollution concentrations were linked to participant locations using EPA air quality data and analyzed across two visits during gestational weeks 16–20 and 24–28. Results: The results suggest that PM<sub>2.5</sub> exposure is positively associated with maternal T3, T4, and FT4 levels but not TSH. These effects vary by timing, with T3 showing stronger associations later in pregnancy and T4/FT4 earlier. Nonlinear dose–response relationships were observed, suggesting thresholds for certain hormones. Discussion: These findings support previous studies linking altered thyroid hormones to adverse birth outcomes and highlight the potential role of air pollution in disrupting maternal thyroid function and its implications for fetal development, calling for further research into mechanisms and interventions to mitigate these risks. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-afa1802117cd4ef199b198ce0cd51422 |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 2305-6304 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-01-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Toxics |
| spelling | doaj-art-afa1802117cd4ef199b198ce0cd514222025-01-24T13:51:06ZengMDPI AGToxics2305-63042025-01-011315810.3390/toxics13010058Associations Between Ambient PM<sub>2.5</sub> and Thyroid Hormones in Pregnant Persons in Puerto RicoTrenton Honda0Trenton D. Henry1Laura Corlin2Kipruto Kirwa3Akram Alshawabkeh4Julia R. Varshavsky5Winston Kennedy6José F. Cordero7Carmen M. Velez Vega8Zaira Y. Rosario Pabon9John D. Meeker10Helen Suh11School of Clinical and Rehabilitation Sciences, Northeastern University, Boston, MA 02115, USASchool of Clinical and Rehabilitation Sciences, Northeastern University, Boston, MA 02115, USADepartment of Public Health and Community Medicine, Tufts University School of Medicine, Boston, MA 02111, USADepartment of Environmental Health, Boston University School of Public Health, Boston, MA 02118, USADepartment of Civil & Environmental Engineering, Northeastern University, Boston, MA 02115, USADepartment of Civil & Environmental Engineering, Northeastern University, Boston, MA 02115, USASchool of Clinical and Rehabilitation Sciences, Northeastern University, Boston, MA 02115, USADepartment of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, University of Georgia, Athens, GA 30602, USADepartment of Social Sciences, UPR Medical Sciences Campus, University of Puerto Rico Graduate School of Public Health, San Juan, PR 00936, USADepartment of Social Sciences, UPR Medical Sciences Campus, University of Puerto Rico Graduate School of Public Health, San Juan, PR 00936, USADepartment of Environmental Health Sciences, University of Michigan School of Public Health, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, USADepartment of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Tufts University School of Engineering, Medford, MA 02155, USAIntroduction: This study investigates associations between fine particulate air pollution (PM<sub>2.5</sub>) exposure and thyroid hormone levels during pregnancy in Puerto Rican individuals, a vulnerable population facing socioeconomic and environmental disparities. Methods: This research draws on data from the PROTECT cohort study and involves 1040 participants to measure the effect of PM<sub>2.5</sub> on developmentally important thyroid hormones (TSH, T3, T4, and FT4). Pollution concentrations were linked to participant locations using EPA air quality data and analyzed across two visits during gestational weeks 16–20 and 24–28. Results: The results suggest that PM<sub>2.5</sub> exposure is positively associated with maternal T3, T4, and FT4 levels but not TSH. These effects vary by timing, with T3 showing stronger associations later in pregnancy and T4/FT4 earlier. Nonlinear dose–response relationships were observed, suggesting thresholds for certain hormones. Discussion: These findings support previous studies linking altered thyroid hormones to adverse birth outcomes and highlight the potential role of air pollution in disrupting maternal thyroid function and its implications for fetal development, calling for further research into mechanisms and interventions to mitigate these risks.https://www.mdpi.com/2305-6304/13/1/58air pollutionPM<sub>2.5</sub>thyroid hormonesmaternal health |
| spellingShingle | Trenton Honda Trenton D. Henry Laura Corlin Kipruto Kirwa Akram Alshawabkeh Julia R. Varshavsky Winston Kennedy José F. Cordero Carmen M. Velez Vega Zaira Y. Rosario Pabon John D. Meeker Helen Suh Associations Between Ambient PM<sub>2.5</sub> and Thyroid Hormones in Pregnant Persons in Puerto Rico Toxics air pollution PM<sub>2.5</sub> thyroid hormones maternal health |
| title | Associations Between Ambient PM<sub>2.5</sub> and Thyroid Hormones in Pregnant Persons in Puerto Rico |
| title_full | Associations Between Ambient PM<sub>2.5</sub> and Thyroid Hormones in Pregnant Persons in Puerto Rico |
| title_fullStr | Associations Between Ambient PM<sub>2.5</sub> and Thyroid Hormones in Pregnant Persons in Puerto Rico |
| title_full_unstemmed | Associations Between Ambient PM<sub>2.5</sub> and Thyroid Hormones in Pregnant Persons in Puerto Rico |
| title_short | Associations Between Ambient PM<sub>2.5</sub> and Thyroid Hormones in Pregnant Persons in Puerto Rico |
| title_sort | associations between ambient pm sub 2 5 sub and thyroid hormones in pregnant persons in puerto rico |
| topic | air pollution PM<sub>2.5</sub> thyroid hormones maternal health |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2305-6304/13/1/58 |
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