A Correlational Analysis of Phthalate Exposure and Thyroid Hormone Levels in Common Bottlenose Dolphins (<i>Tursiops truncatus</i>) from Sarasota Bay, Florida (2010–2019)
Phthalates are chemical esters used to enhance desirable properties of plastics, personal care, and cleaning products. Phthalates have shown ubiquitous environmental contamination due to their abundant use and propensity to leach from products to which they are added. Following exposure, phthalates...
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| Format: | Article |
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MDPI AG
2022-03-01
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| Series: | Animals |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2076-2615/12/7/824 |
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| author | Miranda K. Dziobak Randall S. Wells Emily C. Pisarski Ed F. Wirth Leslie B. Hart |
| author_facet | Miranda K. Dziobak Randall S. Wells Emily C. Pisarski Ed F. Wirth Leslie B. Hart |
| author_sort | Miranda K. Dziobak |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Phthalates are chemical esters used to enhance desirable properties of plastics, personal care, and cleaning products. Phthalates have shown ubiquitous environmental contamination due to their abundant use and propensity to leach from products to which they are added. Following exposure, phthalates are rapidly metabolized and excreted through urine. Common bottlenose dolphins (<i>Tursiops truncatus</i>) sampled from Sarasota Bay, Florida, have demonstrated prevalent di(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate (DEHP) exposure indicated by detectable urinary mono(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate (MEHP) concentrations. Widespread exposure is concerning due to evidence of endocrine disruption from human and laboratory studies. To better understand how phthalate exposure may impact dolphin health, correlations between relevant hormone levels and detectable urinary MEHP concentrations were examined. Hormone concentrations measured via blood serum samples included triiodothyronine (T3), total thyroxine (T4), and free thyroxine (FT4). Urinary MEHP concentrations were detected in 56% of sampled individuals (<i>n</i> = 50; mean = 8.13 ng/mL; s.d. = 15.99 ng/mL). Adult female and male FT4 was significantly correlated with urinary MEHP concentrations (adult female Kendall’s tau = 0.36, <i>p</i> = 0.04; adult male Kendall’s tau = 0.42, <i>p</i> = 0.02). Evidence from this study suggests DEHP exposure may be impacting thyroid hormone homeostasis. Cumulative effects of other stressors and resultant endocrine impacts are unknown. Further research is warranted to understand potential health implications associated with this relationship. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-09T12:12:01Z |
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| id | doaj.art-a775f7fb0dba4f5ea94bcfa421f228f0 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2076-2615 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-09T12:12:01Z |
| publishDate | 2022-03-01 |
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| record_format | Article |
| series | Animals |
| spelling | doaj.art-a775f7fb0dba4f5ea94bcfa421f228f02023-11-30T22:50:54ZengMDPI AGAnimals2076-26152022-03-0112782410.3390/ani12070824A Correlational Analysis of Phthalate Exposure and Thyroid Hormone Levels in Common Bottlenose Dolphins (<i>Tursiops truncatus</i>) from Sarasota Bay, Florida (2010–2019)Miranda K. Dziobak0Randall S. Wells1Emily C. Pisarski2Ed F. Wirth3Leslie B. Hart4Environmental and Sustainability Studies Graduate Program, College of Charleston, Charleston, SC 29424, USAChicago Zoological Society’s Sarasota Dolphin Research Program, c/o Mote Marine Laboratory, Sarasota, FL 34236, USANational Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, National Ocean Service, National Centers for Coastal Ocean Science, Charleston, SC 29412, USANational Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, National Ocean Service, National Centers for Coastal Ocean Science, Charleston, SC 29412, USADepartment of Health and Human Performance, College of Charleston, Charleston, SC 29424, USAPhthalates are chemical esters used to enhance desirable properties of plastics, personal care, and cleaning products. Phthalates have shown ubiquitous environmental contamination due to their abundant use and propensity to leach from products to which they are added. Following exposure, phthalates are rapidly metabolized and excreted through urine. Common bottlenose dolphins (<i>Tursiops truncatus</i>) sampled from Sarasota Bay, Florida, have demonstrated prevalent di(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate (DEHP) exposure indicated by detectable urinary mono(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate (MEHP) concentrations. Widespread exposure is concerning due to evidence of endocrine disruption from human and laboratory studies. To better understand how phthalate exposure may impact dolphin health, correlations between relevant hormone levels and detectable urinary MEHP concentrations were examined. Hormone concentrations measured via blood serum samples included triiodothyronine (T3), total thyroxine (T4), and free thyroxine (FT4). Urinary MEHP concentrations were detected in 56% of sampled individuals (<i>n</i> = 50; mean = 8.13 ng/mL; s.d. = 15.99 ng/mL). Adult female and male FT4 was significantly correlated with urinary MEHP concentrations (adult female Kendall’s tau = 0.36, <i>p</i> = 0.04; adult male Kendall’s tau = 0.42, <i>p</i> = 0.02). Evidence from this study suggests DEHP exposure may be impacting thyroid hormone homeostasis. Cumulative effects of other stressors and resultant endocrine impacts are unknown. Further research is warranted to understand potential health implications associated with this relationship.https://www.mdpi.com/2076-2615/12/7/824endocrine disruptionthyroid hormonecetaceanphthalates |
| spellingShingle | Miranda K. Dziobak Randall S. Wells Emily C. Pisarski Ed F. Wirth Leslie B. Hart A Correlational Analysis of Phthalate Exposure and Thyroid Hormone Levels in Common Bottlenose Dolphins (<i>Tursiops truncatus</i>) from Sarasota Bay, Florida (2010–2019) Animals endocrine disruption thyroid hormone cetacean phthalates |
| title | A Correlational Analysis of Phthalate Exposure and Thyroid Hormone Levels in Common Bottlenose Dolphins (<i>Tursiops truncatus</i>) from Sarasota Bay, Florida (2010–2019) |
| title_full | A Correlational Analysis of Phthalate Exposure and Thyroid Hormone Levels in Common Bottlenose Dolphins (<i>Tursiops truncatus</i>) from Sarasota Bay, Florida (2010–2019) |
| title_fullStr | A Correlational Analysis of Phthalate Exposure and Thyroid Hormone Levels in Common Bottlenose Dolphins (<i>Tursiops truncatus</i>) from Sarasota Bay, Florida (2010–2019) |
| title_full_unstemmed | A Correlational Analysis of Phthalate Exposure and Thyroid Hormone Levels in Common Bottlenose Dolphins (<i>Tursiops truncatus</i>) from Sarasota Bay, Florida (2010–2019) |
| title_short | A Correlational Analysis of Phthalate Exposure and Thyroid Hormone Levels in Common Bottlenose Dolphins (<i>Tursiops truncatus</i>) from Sarasota Bay, Florida (2010–2019) |
| title_sort | correlational analysis of phthalate exposure and thyroid hormone levels in common bottlenose dolphins i tursiops truncatus i from sarasota bay florida 2010 2019 |
| topic | endocrine disruption thyroid hormone cetacean phthalates |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2076-2615/12/7/824 |
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