Exposure to polybrominated diphenyl ethers and a polybrominated biphenyl and risk of thyroid cancer in women: Single and multi-pollutant approaches

Abstract

Background: Thyroid cancer incidence is the most rapidly increasing malignancy; rates are three times higher in women than men. Thyroid hormone–disrupting flame-retardant chemicals, including polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDE) and polybrominated biphenyls (PBB), may contribute to this trend. Methods: We investigated the relationship between PBDE/ PBB exposure and papillary thyroid cancer (PTC) in 250 incident female papillary thyroid cancer cases and 250 female controls frequency-matched on age. Interviews and postdiagnostic serum samples were collected from 2010 to 2013. Serum samples were analyzed for 11 congeners. We calculated ORs and 95% confidence intervals (95% CI) using single-pollutant logistic regression models for continuous and categorical lipid-adjusted serum concentrations of PBDE/PBB, adjusted for age, alcohol consumption, and education. We applied three multi-pollutant approaches [standard multipollutant regression models, hierarchical Bayesian logistic regression modeling (HBLR), principal components analysis (PCA)] to investigate associations with PBDE/PBB mixtures. Results: In single-pollutant models, a decreased risk was observed at the highest (>90th percentile) versus lowest (