Mercury in the human thyroid gland: Potential implications for thyroid cancer, autoimmune thyroiditis, and hypothyroidism
- Publisher:
- Public Library of Science (PLoS)
- Publication Type:
- Journal Article
- Citation:
- PLoS One, 2021, 16, (2), pp. 1-16
- Issue Date:
- 2021-02-09
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Full metadata record
Field | Value | Language |
---|---|---|
dc.contributor.author | Pamphlett, R | |
dc.contributor.author | Doble, PA | |
dc.contributor.author | Bishop, DP | |
dc.date.accessioned | 2022-01-18T23:28:53Z | |
dc.date.available | 2021-01-25 | |
dc.date.available | 2022-01-18T23:28:53Z | |
dc.date.issued | 2021-02-09 | |
dc.identifier.citation | PLoS One, 2021, 16, (2), pp. 1-16 | |
dc.identifier.issn | 1932-6203 | |
dc.identifier.issn | 1932-6203 | |
dc.identifier.uri | http://hdl.handle.net/10453/153299 | |
dc.description.abstract | Objective Mercury and other toxic metals have been suggested to be involved in thyroid disorders, but the distribution and prevalence of mercury in the human thyroid gland is not known. We therefore used two elemental bio-imaging techniques to look at the distribution of mercury and other toxic metals in the thyroid glands of people over a wide range of ages. Materials and methods Formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded thyroid tissue blocks were obtained from 115 people aged 1–104 years old, with varied clinicopathological conditions, who had thyroid samples removed during forensic/coronial autopsies. Seven-micron sections from these tissue blocks were used to detect intracellular inorganic mercury using autometallography. The presence of mercury was confirmed using laser ablation-inductively coupled plasma-mass spectrometry which can detect multiple elements. Results Mercury was found on autometallography in the thyroid follicular cells of 4% of people aged 1–29 years, 9% aged 30–59 years, and 38% aged 60–104 years. Laser ablation-inductively coupled plasma-mass spectrometry confirmed the presence of mercury in samples staining with autometallography, and detected cadmium, lead, iron, nickel and silver in selected samples. Conclusions The proportion of people with mercury in their thyroid follicular cells increases with age, until it is present in over one-third of people aged 60 years and over. Other toxic metals in thyroid cells could enhance mercury toxicity. Mercury can trigger genotoxicity, autoimmune reactions, and oxidative damage, which raises the possibility that mercury could play a role in the pathogenesis of thyroid cancers, autoimmune thyroiditis, and hypothyroidism. | |
dc.format | Electronic-eCollection | |
dc.language | eng | |
dc.publisher | Public Library of Science (PLoS) | |
dc.relation | http://purl.org/au-research/grants/arc/DP170100036 | |
dc.relation | http://purl.org/au-research/grants/arc/DE180100194 | |
dc.relation | http://purl.org/au-research/grants/arc/DP190102361 | |
dc.relation | US Department of Health and Human Services1R21AR072950-01A1 | |
dc.relation.ispartof | PLoS One | |
dc.relation.isbasedon | 10.1371/journal.pone.0246748 | |
dc.rights | info:eu-repo/semantics/openAccess | |
dc.subject.classification | General Science & Technology | |
dc.subject.mesh | Adolescent | |
dc.subject.mesh | Adult | |
dc.subject.mesh | Aged | |
dc.subject.mesh | Aged, 80 and over | |
dc.subject.mesh | Child | |
dc.subject.mesh | Child, Preschool | |
dc.subject.mesh | Environmental Monitoring | |
dc.subject.mesh | Female | |
dc.subject.mesh | Humans | |
dc.subject.mesh | Hypothyroidism | |
dc.subject.mesh | Infant | |
dc.subject.mesh | Male | |
dc.subject.mesh | Mercury | |
dc.subject.mesh | Middle Aged | |
dc.subject.mesh | Thyroid Gland | |
dc.subject.mesh | Thyroid Neoplasms | |
dc.subject.mesh | Thyroiditis, Autoimmune | |
dc.subject.mesh | Young Adult | |
dc.subject.mesh | Thyroid Gland | |
dc.subject.mesh | Humans | |
dc.subject.mesh | Thyroid Neoplasms | |
dc.subject.mesh | Hypothyroidism | |
dc.subject.mesh | Thyroiditis, Autoimmune | |
dc.subject.mesh | Mercury | |
dc.subject.mesh | Environmental Monitoring | |
dc.subject.mesh | Adolescent | |
dc.subject.mesh | Adult | |
dc.subject.mesh | Aged | |
dc.subject.mesh | Aged, 80 and over | |
dc.subject.mesh | Middle Aged | |
dc.subject.mesh | Child | |
dc.subject.mesh | Child, Preschool | |
dc.subject.mesh | Infant | |
dc.subject.mesh | Female | |
dc.subject.mesh | Male | |
dc.subject.mesh | Young Adult | |
dc.title | Mercury in the human thyroid gland: Potential implications for thyroid cancer, autoimmune thyroiditis, and hypothyroidism | |
dc.type | Journal Article | |
utslib.citation.volume | 16 | |
utslib.location.activity | United States | |
pubs.organisational-group | /University of Technology Sydney | |
pubs.organisational-group | /University of Technology Sydney/Faculty of Science | |
pubs.organisational-group | /University of Technology Sydney/Strength - CFS - Centre for Forensic Science | |
pubs.organisational-group | /University of Technology Sydney/Faculty of Science/School of Mathematical and Physical Sciences | |
utslib.copyright.status | open_access | * |
pubs.consider-herdc | false | |
dc.date.updated | 2022-01-18T23:28:46Z | |
pubs.issue | 2 | |
pubs.publication-status | Published | |
pubs.volume | 16 | |
utslib.citation.issue | 2 |
Abstract:
Objective
Mercury and other toxic metals have been suggested to be involved in thyroid disorders, but the distribution and prevalence of mercury in the human thyroid gland is not known. We therefore used two elemental bio-imaging techniques to look at the distribution of mercury and other toxic metals in the thyroid glands of people over a wide range of ages.
Materials and methods
Formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded thyroid tissue blocks were obtained from 115 people aged 1–104 years old, with varied clinicopathological conditions, who had thyroid samples removed during forensic/coronial autopsies. Seven-micron sections from these tissue blocks were used to detect intracellular inorganic mercury using autometallography. The presence of mercury was confirmed using laser ablation-inductively coupled plasma-mass spectrometry which can detect multiple elements.
Results
Mercury was found on autometallography in the thyroid follicular cells of 4% of people aged 1–29 years, 9% aged 30–59 years, and 38% aged 60–104 years. Laser ablation-inductively coupled plasma-mass spectrometry confirmed the presence of mercury in samples staining with autometallography, and detected cadmium, lead, iron, nickel and silver in selected samples.
Conclusions
The proportion of people with mercury in their thyroid follicular cells increases with age, until it is present in over one-third of people aged 60 years and over. Other toxic metals in thyroid cells could enhance mercury toxicity. Mercury can trigger genotoxicity, autoimmune reactions, and oxidative damage, which raises the possibility that mercury could play a role in the pathogenesis of thyroid cancers, autoimmune thyroiditis, and hypothyroidism.
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