Relationship of drinking water disinfectants to plasma cholesterol and thyroid hormone levels in experimental studies

Journal Article · Sat Mar 01 00:00:00 EST 1986 · Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. U.S.A.; (United States)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1073/pnas.83.5.1485· OSTI ID:5393495

Revis, N W; McCauley, P; Bull, R; Holdsworth, G

The effects of drinking water containing 2 or 15 ppm chlorine (pH 6.5 and 8.5), chlorine dioxide, and monochloramine on thyroid function and plasma cholesterol were studied because previous investigators have reported cardiovascular abnormalities in experimental animals exposed to chlorinated water. Plasma thyroxine (T4) levels, as compared to controls, were significantly decreased in pigeons fed a normal or high-cholesterol diet and drinking water containing these drinking water disinfectants at a concentration of 15 ppm (the exception was chlorine at pH 6.5) for 3 months. In most of the treatment groups, T4 levels were significantly lower following the exposure to drinking water containing the 2 ppm dose. Increase in plasma cholesterol were frequently observed in the groups with lower T4 levels. This association was most evident in pigeons fed the high-cholesterol diet and exposed to these disinfectants at a dose of 15 ppm. The factor(s) associated with the effect of these disinfectants on plasma T4 and cholesterol is not known. The authors suggest however that these effects are probably mediated by products formed when these disinfectants react with organic matter in the upper gastrointestinal tract.

• Research Organization: Oak Ridge Research Institute, TN
• OSTI ID: 5393495
• Journal Information: Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. U.S.A.; (United States), Vol. 83:5
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

63 RADIATION, THERMAL, AND OTHER ENVIRON. POLLUTANT EFFECTS ON LIVING ORGS. AND BIOL. MAT.
CHLORINATION
BIOLOGICAL EFFECTS
CHOLESTEROL
BLOOD CHEMISTRY
THYROXINE
DIET
DRINKING WATER
GASTROINTESTINAL TRACT
HYPOTHYROIDISM
LIPOPROTEINS
PIGEONS
AMINO ACIDS
ANIMALS
BIRDS
CARBOXYLIC ACIDS
CHEMICAL REACTIONS
DIGESTIVE SYSTEM
DISEASES
ENDOCRINE DISEASES
HALOGENATION
HORMONES
HYDROGEN COMPOUNDS
HYDROXY COMPOUNDS
LIPIDS
ORGANIC ACIDS
ORGANIC COMPOUNDS
ORGANIC HALOGEN COMPOUNDS
ORGANIC IODINE COMPOUNDS
OXYGEN COMPOUNDS
PEPTIDE HORMONES
PROTEINS
STEROIDS
STEROLS
THYROID HORMONES
VERTEBRATES
WATER
560300* - Chemicals Metabolism & Toxicology