Longitudinal Study of Thyroid Hormones between Conventional and Organic Farmers in Thailand
Many pesticides are endocrine-disrupting chemicals that can interfere with hormone levels. This study aimed to assess the longitudinal impact of exposure to pesticides on thyroid hormone levels, including Thyroid Stimulating Hormone (TSH), Free Triiodothyronine (FT3), Free Thyroxine (FT4), Triiodoth...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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MDPI AG
2020-10-01
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| Series: | Toxics |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2305-6304/8/4/82 |
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| author | Noppanun Nankongnab Pornpimol Kongtip Nichcha Kallayanatham Ritthirong Pundee Jutharak Yimsabai Susan Woskie |
| author_facet | Noppanun Nankongnab Pornpimol Kongtip Nichcha Kallayanatham Ritthirong Pundee Jutharak Yimsabai Susan Woskie |
| author_sort | Noppanun Nankongnab |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Many pesticides are endocrine-disrupting chemicals that can interfere with hormone levels. This study aimed to assess the longitudinal impact of exposure to pesticides on thyroid hormone levels, including Thyroid Stimulating Hormone (TSH), Free Triiodothyronine (FT3), Free Thyroxine (FT4), Triiodothyronine (T3), and Thyroxine (T4). Both conventional (i.e., pesticide using) and organic farmers were interviewed using questionnaires, and blood samples were collected at 7–9 a.m. to determine thyroid hormone levels for four rounds, with a duration of eight months between each round. A linear mixed model of the natural log of the individual hormone levels used random intercepts for subjects while controlling gender, baseline age, and body mass index (BMI) was used to compare between conventional and organic farmers or the impact of cumulative days of spraying insecticides, herbicides or fungicides. The estimated marginal means of the thyroid hormone levels (TSH, FT3, T3, and T4) estimated from the linear mixed models were significantly higher among the conventional farmers than organic farmers. As cumulative spray days of insecticide, herbicide or fungicide increased, TSH and FT3 increased significantly. FT4 decreased significantly as cumulative spray days of insecticide or fungicide increased. These findings suggest that the insecticides, herbicides, and fungicides sprayed by conventional farmers exert endocrine-disrupting activities, altering the hypothalamic-pituitary-thyroid (HPT) axis homeostasis. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-10T15:50:53Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-9bc054a1272d465b99128933a23c81a2 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2305-6304 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-10T15:50:53Z |
| publishDate | 2020-10-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Toxics |
| spelling | doaj.art-9bc054a1272d465b99128933a23c81a22023-11-20T16:05:17ZengMDPI AGToxics2305-63042020-10-01848210.3390/toxics8040082Longitudinal Study of Thyroid Hormones between Conventional and Organic Farmers in ThailandNoppanun Nankongnab0Pornpimol Kongtip1Nichcha Kallayanatham2Ritthirong Pundee3Jutharak Yimsabai4Susan Woskie5Department of Occupational Health and Safety, Faculty of Public Health, Mahidol University, 420/1 Rajvidhi Road, Phayathai, Rajthavee, Bangkok 10400, ThailandDepartment of Occupational Health and Safety, Faculty of Public Health, Mahidol University, 420/1 Rajvidhi Road, Phayathai, Rajthavee, Bangkok 10400, ThailandDepartment of Occupational Health and Safety, Faculty of Public Health, Mahidol University, 420/1 Rajvidhi Road, Phayathai, Rajthavee, Bangkok 10400, ThailandMahidol University, Nakhonsawan Campus, Nakhon Sawan 60130, ThailandDepartment of Medical Technology and Clinical Pathology, Buddhachinaraj Phitsanulok Hospital, 90 Sithamma Traipidok Road, Muang, Phitsanulok 65000, ThailandDepartment of Public Health, University of Massachusetts Lowell, One University Ave, Lowell, MA 01854-2867, USAMany pesticides are endocrine-disrupting chemicals that can interfere with hormone levels. This study aimed to assess the longitudinal impact of exposure to pesticides on thyroid hormone levels, including Thyroid Stimulating Hormone (TSH), Free Triiodothyronine (FT3), Free Thyroxine (FT4), Triiodothyronine (T3), and Thyroxine (T4). Both conventional (i.e., pesticide using) and organic farmers were interviewed using questionnaires, and blood samples were collected at 7–9 a.m. to determine thyroid hormone levels for four rounds, with a duration of eight months between each round. A linear mixed model of the natural log of the individual hormone levels used random intercepts for subjects while controlling gender, baseline age, and body mass index (BMI) was used to compare between conventional and organic farmers or the impact of cumulative days of spraying insecticides, herbicides or fungicides. The estimated marginal means of the thyroid hormone levels (TSH, FT3, T3, and T4) estimated from the linear mixed models were significantly higher among the conventional farmers than organic farmers. As cumulative spray days of insecticide, herbicide or fungicide increased, TSH and FT3 increased significantly. FT4 decreased significantly as cumulative spray days of insecticide or fungicide increased. These findings suggest that the insecticides, herbicides, and fungicides sprayed by conventional farmers exert endocrine-disrupting activities, altering the hypothalamic-pituitary-thyroid (HPT) axis homeostasis.https://www.mdpi.com/2305-6304/8/4/82Thyroid hormonesconventional farmersorganic farmerslongitudinal study |
| spellingShingle | Noppanun Nankongnab Pornpimol Kongtip Nichcha Kallayanatham Ritthirong Pundee Jutharak Yimsabai Susan Woskie Longitudinal Study of Thyroid Hormones between Conventional and Organic Farmers in Thailand Toxics Thyroid hormones conventional farmers organic farmers longitudinal study |
| title | Longitudinal Study of Thyroid Hormones between Conventional and Organic Farmers in Thailand |
| title_full | Longitudinal Study of Thyroid Hormones between Conventional and Organic Farmers in Thailand |
| title_fullStr | Longitudinal Study of Thyroid Hormones between Conventional and Organic Farmers in Thailand |
| title_full_unstemmed | Longitudinal Study of Thyroid Hormones between Conventional and Organic Farmers in Thailand |
| title_short | Longitudinal Study of Thyroid Hormones between Conventional and Organic Farmers in Thailand |
| title_sort | longitudinal study of thyroid hormones between conventional and organic farmers in thailand |
| topic | Thyroid hormones conventional farmers organic farmers longitudinal study |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2305-6304/8/4/82 |
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