PMID: 9553311Apr 29, 1998Paper

Thyroid hormone level in children in the area of a toxic waste incinerator in South Essen

Das Gesundheitswesen
N Osius, W Karmaus

Abstract

As part of an environmental epidemiological study on potential exposure to a toxic waste incineration we investigated whether children in an area with a toxic waste incinerator (TWI) have different levels of thyroid hormones than children in two comparative regions. The TWI region is situated in the Rhine valley (about 30 km across) with low mountains on both sides. Other industries such as a chemical plant are nearby, and several municipalities are located in the environment of these. One comparative area 20 km north is also industrially and agriculturally used, but has no incinerator (Rhine Valley comparison group, RVC group). South-East of the incinerator region in an area of low mountains (about 400 m high) we investigated the second comparison group (Odenwald comparison group, OWC group). Altogether 671 children from 18 municipalities participated in 1994/95 (participation 61.5%). Blood samples were taken from 341 children, aged 7 to 10 years, living in non-smoking households or in households with only light smokers. Serum levels of thyrotropin stimulating hormone (TSH), free thyroxine (FT4), and free triiodothyronine (FT3) were analysed. In a self-administered questionnaire for the parents, which was checked during the me...Continue Reading

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