Slovak Academy of Sciences, Bratislava, Slovakia.
Front Neuroendocrinol. 2010 Oct;31(4):497-518. doi: 10.1016/j.yfrne.2010.08.001. Epub 2010 Aug 24.
High prevalence of thyroid and metabolic disorders has been repeatedly observed in the population living in the area of eastern Slovakia highly polluted by a mixture of PCBs, DDE and HCB since about 50 years ago. Among thyroid disorders, increase of thyroid volume as measured by ultrasound volumetry may be suggested as one of notable findings which appeared possibly related to increased OCs levels and to autoimmunity signs (e.g. positive thyroperoxidase antibodies in blood and/or hypoechogenicity image obtained by ultrasound), while some participation of individual susceptibility and also of immunogenic effect of OCs and iodine in this iodine replete country cannot be excluded. Another notable finding has been the increase of blood FT4 and TT3 positively related to high PCBs level. Such increased FT4 level has been found associated with TSH level in hyperthyroid range in about 2% of examined population from polluted area. High prevalence of thyroid autoimmune disorders strongly supported the assumption on impaired immune system and thus also on presumably increased prevalence of other autoimmune disorders in highly exposed population. In addition, markedly increased prevalence of prediabetes and diabetes significantly related to major OCs (PCBs, DDE and HCB) levels and accompanied by increasing level of cholesterol and triglycerides has been observed. The observations also suggested a role of prenatal exposure to OCs in the development of several adverse health signs (e.g. increased prevalence of thyroid antibodies, impaired fasting glucose level, increased thyroid volume, decreased thymus volume, decreased neurobehavioral performance, increased hearing and dental disorders) in young generation born to highly exposed mothers in polluted area.
自大约 50 年前以来，生活在受多氯联苯、滴滴涕和六氯苯混合物严重污染的斯洛伐克东部地区的人群中，反复观察到甲状腺和代谢紊乱的高发率。在甲状腺疾病中，超声容积测量显示甲状腺体积增加可能是一个显著发现，这可能与 OCs 水平升高和自身免疫迹象有关（例如血液中甲状腺过氧化物酶抗体阳性和/或超声获得的低回声图像），而个体易感性以及 OCs 和碘在这个碘充足国家的免疫原性效应的部分参与也不能排除。另一个显著的发现是血液 FT4 和 TT3 的增加，与高 PCB 水平呈正相关。在受污染地区受检人群中，约有 2%的人发现这种升高的 FT4 水平与甲状腺功能亢进范围内的 TSH 水平相关。甲状腺自身免疫疾病的高发率强烈支持免疫系统受损的假设，因此也支持高暴露人群中其他自身免疫疾病的发病率可能增加的假设。此外，还观察到前驱糖尿病和糖尿病的显著高发率与主要 OCs（多氯联苯、滴滴涕和六氯苯）水平显著相关，并伴有胆固醇和甘油三酯水平的升高。这些观察结果还表明，OCs 的产前暴露在受污染地区高暴露母亲所生的年轻一代中几个不良健康迹象的发展中起作用（例如甲状腺抗体的高发率、空腹血糖水平受损、甲状腺体积增加、胸腺体积减少、神经行为表现下降、听力和牙齿疾病增加）。
