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Neurotoxicity of Thyroid Disrupting Contaminants
Citation:
CROFTON, K. M. Neurotoxicity of Thyroid Disrupting Contaminants. Presented at International Symposium on Disturbances of Cerebral Function Induced by Food nad Water Contaminants, Valencia, SPAIN, March 23 - 24, 2010.
Impact/Purpose:
Recent advances in our understanding of molecular targets for TDCs, the downstream mechanistic pathways that lead to adverse neurodevelopmental outcomes, and development of high-throughput test methods, will help address these uncertainties.
Description:
Thyroid hormones playa critical role in the normal development ofthe mammalian brain. Thyroid disrupting chemicals (TDCs) are environmental contaminants that alter the structure or function ofthe thyroid gland, alter regulatory enzymes associated with thyroid hormone (TH) homeostasis, or change circulating or tissue concentrations of THs. TDCs include a wide range chemical structures that act through a variety ofmechanisms. Major uncertainties regarding the potential health hazards ofTDCs are: 1) the large number ofuntested chemicals; 2) the potential for additive or synergistic effects of exposure to mixtures; and, 3) extrapolation ofanimal data to humans, especially at low environmentally relevant exposures. Recent advances in our understanding ofmolecular targets for TDCs, the downstream mechanistic pathways that lead to adverse neurodevelopmental outcomes, and development ofhigh-throughput test methods, will help address these uncertainties. Characterizing health hazards ofthyroid disruption by environmental contaminants will require an improved understanding ofhow divergent mechanisms alter THs and lead to adverse impacts on nervous system development. (This abstract does not necessarily reflect the policy ofthe US EPA)