Antithyroid effects of coal-derived pollutants

Journal Article · Mon Nov 30 23:00:00 EST 1992 · Journal of Toxicology and Environmental Health; (United States)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1080/15287399209531686· OSTI ID:6847753

Lindsay, R H; Hill, J B ^[1]; Gaitan, E; Cooksey, R C ^[2]; Jolley, R L ^[3]

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1. Univ. of Alabama Medical School, Birmingham (United States)
2. Univ. of Mississippi, Jackson (United States)
3. Oak Ridge National Lab., TN (United States)

Endemic goiter in iodide-sufficient areas of the United States and Colombia has been linked to watersheds rich in coal and shale, which several reports suggest are the source of water-borne goitrogens. In this report the potential antithyroid activities of aqueous coal and shale extracts and of compounds identified in aqueous effluents from coal conversion processes were assayed in thyroid peroxidase (TPO) and thyroid slice systems. Aqueous extracts of coal and black shale were potent inhibitors of TPO or [sup 125]I organification by thyroid slices. The most abundant water-soluble compounds derived from coal are dihydroxyphenols, thiocyanate, disulfides, and hydroxypyridines. The dihydroxyphenols resorcinol, 2-methylresorcinol, and 5-methylresorcinol (orcinol) were 26.7, 22.5, and 7.2 times more potent, respectively, than the antithyroid drug 6-propylthiouracil (PTU). Other dihydroxyphenols and thiocyanate were less potent but comparable in activity to PTU. All dihydroxypridines and 3-hydroxypridine produced inhibitory effects comparable to PTU. None of the disulfides inhibited TPO. The antiperoxidase effects of combinations of two dihydroxyphenols or one dihydroxyphenol and SCN were additive, whereas the effects of a combination of four dihydroxyphenols at threshold inhibitory concentrations were synergistic. Thus, antithyroid effects may be greatly amplified by exposure to multiple coal-derived goitrogens and could be many times that produced by any one of the contributing pollutants. These results demonstrate that potent water-borne goitrogens are derived from coal and shale and that their contamination of water supplies could pose a serious threat of thyroid disorders.

• OSTI ID: 6847753
• Journal Information: Journal of Toxicology and Environmental Health; (United States), Journal Name: Journal of Toxicology and Environmental Health; (United States) Vol. 37:4; ISSN 0098-4108; ISSN JTEHD6
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

01 COAL, LIGNITE, AND PEAT
016000* -- Coal
Lignite
& Peat-- Health & Safety
560300 -- Chemicals Metabolism & Toxicology
63 RADIATION, THERMAL, AND OTHER ENVIRON. POLLUTANT EFFECTS ON LIVING ORGS. AND BIOL. MAT.
ANTITHYROID DRUGS
AQUEOUS SOLUTIONS
AROMATICS
BIOLOGICAL EFFECTS
BITUMINOUS MATERIALS
BODY
CARBONACEOUS MATERIALS
COAL
COAL EXTRACTS
CONTAMINATION
DEVELOPERS
DISEASES
DISPERSIONS
DRUGS
ELEMENTS
ENDOCRINE DISEASES
ENDOCRINE GLANDS
ENERGY SOURCES
ENZYMES
FOSSIL FUELS
FUELS
GLANDS
GOITER
HALOGENS
HORMONE ANTAGONISTS
HYDROXY COMPOUNDS
IODINE
MATERIALS
MIXTURES
NONMETALS
OIL SHALES
ORGANIC COMPOUNDS
ORGANS
OXIDOREDUCTASES
PEROXIDASES
PHENOLS
POLLUTANTS
POLLUTION
POLYPHENOLS
PROTEINS
RESORCINOL
RESOURCES
ROCKS
SEDIMENTARY ROCKS
SHALES
SOLUTIONS
SYNERGISM
THYROID
WATER POLLUTION
WATER RESOURCES
WATERSHEDS