Abstract

Thyroid diseases are progressively increasing, mainly in terms of congenital hypothyroidism, thyroiditis, and childhood thyrotoxicosis. A rapid increase in the incidence of thyroid cancer in children and adolescents has also been observed in the last decades, mirroring the incidence trend observed in adults. This epidemiologic tendency is paralleled by a progressive increment in costs for diagnosis and treatment of thyroid disease. Thyroid diseases depend on both genetic and environmental factors. Growing evidence link both altered thyroid function and thyroid cancer with a number of widely diffused toxic chemicals of anthropogenic origin. These synthetic substances persistently contaminate the environmental matrices (i.e., air, soil, water) and the food chain, and bio-accumulate in humans, starting from in utero life. Environmental toxics as air pollutants, endocrine disruptors, and high-frequency electromagnetic fields can act through common pathways, on common targets, and with trans-generational effects, with combined mechanisms contributing to thyroid damage. As shown by experimental and epidemiologic observation, these mechanisms include modulation of hormone synthesis, transportation and metabolism, direct interference with thyroid hormone receptors, modulation of gene expression, and autoimmunity. Available evidences linking environmental pollutants and thyroid disease, including cancer, should not be underestimated in consideration of the wide, worldwide, and increasing spread of these toxic substances, and of the key role of thyroid hormones in maintaining the systemic metabolic homeostasis and during the development. Thus, primary prevention measures are urgently needed in particular to protect children, the most exposed and vulnerable subjects.

https://www.eurekaselect.com/196304/article

The post Thyroid Function: a Target for Endocrine Disruptors, Air Pollution, and Radiofrequencies appeared first on EMFSA.

Abstract

Circadian rhythmicity is an approximately 24-h cell-autonomous period driven by transcription–translation feedback loops of specific genes, which are referred to as ‘circadian clock genes’. In mammals, the central circadian pacemaker, which is located in the hypothalamic suprachiasmatic nucleus, controls peripheral circadian clocks. The circadian system regulates virtually all physiological processes, which are further modulated by changes in the external environment, such as light exposure and the timing of food intake. Chronic circadian disruption caused by shift work, travel across time zones or irregular sleep–wake cycles has long-term consequences for our health and is an important lifestyle factor that contributes to the risk of obesity, type 2 diabetes mellitus and cancer. Although the hypothalamic–pituitary–thyroid axis is under the control of the circadian clock via the suprachiasmatic nucleus pacemaker, daily TSH secretion profiles are disrupted in some patients with hypothyroidism and hyperthyroidism. Disruption of circadian rhythms has been recognized as a perturbation of the endocrine system and of cell cycle progression. Expression profiles of circadian clock genes are abnormal in well-differentiated thyroid cancer but not in the benign nodules or a healthy thyroid. Therefore, the characterization of the thyroid clock machinery might improve the preoperative diagnosis of thyroid cancer.

Key points

• The hypothalamic–pituitary–thyroid axis is controlled by the central circadian pacemaker located in the suprachiasmatic nucleus.
• Daily TSH secretion profiles are often disrupted in patients with hypothyroidism or hyperthyroidism.
• Circadian dysfunction caused by shift work, travel across time zones or irregular sleep–wake cycles might be a novel lifestyle risk factor for disturbances in thyroid homeostasis in modern societies.
• Disruption of circadian clock genes in vivo and in vitro disturbs cell cycle progression.
• The circadian clock is thought to be disrupted in well-differentiated thyroid cancer.

https://www.nature.com/articles/s41574-019-0237-z

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Abstract 

Chronobiology is the scientific discipline which considers biological phenomena in relation to time, which assumes itself biological identity. Many physiological processes are cyclically regulated by intrinsic clocks and many pathological events show a circadian time-related occurrence. Even the pituitary–thyroid axis is under the control of a central clock, and the hormones of the pituitary–thyroid axis exhibit circadian, ultradian and circannual rhythmicity. This review, after describing briefly the essential principles of chronobiology, will be focused on the results of personal experiences and of other studies on this issue, paying particular attention to those regarding the thyroid implications, appearing in the literature as reviews, metanalyses, original and observational studies until 28 February 2021 and acquired from two databases (Scopus and PubMed). The first input to biological rhythms is given by a central clock located in the suprachiasmatic nucleus (SCN), which dictates the timing from its hypothalamic site to satellite clocks that contribute in a hierarchical way to regulate the physiological rhythmicity. Disruption of the rhythmic organization can favor the onset of important disorders, including thyroid diseases. Several studies on the interrelationship between thyroid function and circadian rhythmicity demonstrated that thyroid dysfunctions may affect negatively circadian organization, disrupting TSH rhythm. Conversely, alterations of clock machinery may cause important perturbations at the cellular level, which may favor thyroid dysfunctions and also cancer.

Excerpt

Introduction

From ancient hourglasses to sophisticated modern clocks, the measurement of time has been considered indispensable by man for the verification of the flow of natural and human phenomena. The earliest recorded recognition of the importance of biological rhythms in plants and animal dates back to at least 5000 BC. Light/darkness-correlated variations in leaf movements in some plants had been already observed by Androstene during the Empire of Alexander the Great, and the importance of temporal factors was even recognized in biblical times as stated in Ecclesiastes: “To everything there is a season and a time to every purpose under Heaven: a time to be born and a time to die; a time to plant and a time to harvest”. Moreover, as reported in Genesis, the light was created by God first of all, and this is of particular significance, since, as we will see later on, the alternation of light/darkness is the main synchronizing factor in the circadian rhythm [1]

5. Conclusions

Knowledge and respect of biological rhythms and of their endogenous and environmental synchronizing factors is mandatory not only for physicians but also for patients, to ensure the best conditions for the lives of human beings. This is particularly important for the HPT axis, as the knowledge and respect of the reciprocal relationship between the secretions of this axis and the circadian machinery may avoid, on the one hand, the disruption of the circadian rhythmic organization of the subjects and, on the other hand, the consequences of this disruption, which can cause not only thyroid dysfunction but also thyroid cancer. Further studies have to be encouraged to better clarify physiological and pathophysiological aspects of this issue and to search for more appropriate preventive choices to avoid circadian but also ultradian and infradian rhythm disruption of the HPT axis and to search for more effective therapeutic options to promptly correct these alterations, when they have already occurred.

https://www.mdpi.com/2075-1729/11/5/426

The post Chronothyroidology: Chronobiological Aspects in Thyroid Function and Diseases appeared first on EMFSA.

Posted on April 22, 2021

During use of the handheld wireless phone, especially the smartphone, the thyroid gland is a target organ. During the 21st century, the incidence of thyroid cancer is increasing in many countries. We used the Swedish Cancer Register to study trends from 1970 to 2017.

During that time period, the incidence increased statistically significantly in women The increase was especially pronounced during 2010–2017. Increasing incidence was found also in men. Similar results were found for all Nordic countries based on NORDCAN.

These results are in agreement with recent results on increased thyroid cancer risk associated with the use of mobile phones. We postulate that RF radiation is a causative factor for the increasing thyroid cancer incidence.

This article is a follow-up to our previous publication on the same issue.

The results show that it is important to protect the thyroid gland from exposure to radiofrequency radiation from wireless phones, e.g. the smartphone. It should be used only for short calls always in the speaker mode or using handsfree.

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Genetic Susceptibility and RF Radiation Modulate Thyroid Cancer

January 21, 2020

Last January, a team led by Yawei Zhang of the Yale School of Public Health in New Haven published an epidemiological study on the possible link between thyroid cancer and cell phones. Though some “suggestive” associations were seen among long-term users, none was statistically significant. Still, the results “warrant further investigation,” they advised.

Zhang did follow up, and what she found could well change the way people think about cell phone cancer risks.

She discovered that some people have an innate susceptibility to thyroid cancer when exposed to cell phone radiation. These individuals have small variations in their DNA which affect the functioning of seven different genes.

All seven genes regulate DNA repair.

These new findings will appear in the March 2020 issue of Environmental Research. A typescript copy is available now on the journal’s web site.

“The findings suggest that genetic susceptibilities play an important role in cell phone use and the risk of developing thyroid cancer,” Zhang said in a statement. They “could help to identify subgroups who are potentially at risk.”

Read more at:

https://microwavenews.com/news-center/cell-phones-and-cancer-your-genes-may-tell-story

Microwave News reminds us that over a decade ago, researchers in Shanghai reported that children with variant SNPs in their DNA repair genes were more likely to develop leukemia if they lived close to power lines. (More here.)

The work was never followed up.

The post Cell Phones and Cancer: Your Genes May Tell the Story appeared first on EMFSA.

https://www.saferemr.com/2019/07/recent-research.html?fbclid=IwAR2PmX5RXekoiORJi_83RPx4WjXeDkHSgQw20lVs0RpGcjoIZ4F6TkFbgFY

The post 35 New Papers on Electromagnetic Fields and Biology or Health, January 2, 2020 appeared first on EMFSA.

Abstract

Emerging studies have provided evidence on the carcinogenicity of radiofrequency radiation (RFR) from cell phones. This study aims to test the genetic susceptibility on the association between cell phone use and thyroid cancer. Population-based case-control study was conducted in Connecticut between 2010 and 2011 including 440 thyroid cancer cases and 465 population-based controls with genotyping information for 823 single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in 176 DNA genes. We used multivariate unconditional logistic regression models to estimate the genotype-environment interaction between each SNP and cell phone use and to estimate the association with cell phone use in populations according to SNP variants. Ten SNPs had P < 0.01 for interaction in all thyroid cancers. In the common homozygote groups, no association with cell phone use was observed. In the variant group (heterozygotes and rare homozygotes), cell phone use was associated with an increased risk for rs11070256 (odds ratio (OR): 2.36, 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.30–4.30), rs1695147 (OR: 2.52, 95% CI: 1.30–4.90), rs6732673 (OR: 1.59, 95% CI: 1.01–2.49), rs396746 (OR: 2.53, 95% CI: 1.13–5.65), rs12204529 (OR: 2.62, 95% CI: 1.33–5.17), and rs3800537 (OR: 2.64, 95% CI: 1.30–5.36) with thyroid cancers. In small tumors, increased risk was observed for 5 SNPs (rs1063639, rs1695147, rs11070256, rs12204529 and rs3800537), In large tumors, increased risk was observed for 3 SNPs (rs11070256, rs1695147, and rs396746). Our result suggests that genetic susceptibilities modify the associations between cell phone use and risk of thyroid cancer. The findings provide more evidence for RFR carcinogenic group classification.

https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0013935119308102?via%3Dihub

The post Genetic susceptibility may modify the association between cell phone use and thyroid cancer: A population-based case-control study in Connecticut appeared first on EMFSA.

Abstract

The aim of this review was to investigate the effects of possible harmful waves from either cell phone use or being within the range of the cell phone from 450 to 3800 MHz on the thyroid cells and hormones. Eight electronic datasets were systematically searched using MeSH terms, including “cell phone,” “mobile phone,” “GSM,” “radio frequency,” “smartphone,” “triiodothyronine,” “thyroxin,” “thyroid-stimulating hormone,” “T3,” “T4,” “TSH,” and “morphological” and all possible combinations, to identify relevant studies published up to Dec 2018. We also manually searched the reference lists of potentially selected studies to identify further relevant publications. About 161 relevant studies were initially found. After screening titles and abstracts, 139 studies were excluded, and finally 22 studies (comprising 7182 cases) were included in the qualitative synthesis. Of the 22 included studies, 11 studies reported changes in T3 and T4 levels (six reported a decrease in T3 levels and one reported increase in it); moreover, five found decreased T4 levels and two studies an increased level. In other 10 studies, TSH alteration was reported. Of these, two studies reported a decrease in TSH level and one reported an increase in the hormone levels, while in the remaining studies non-significant changes were reported. Finally, seven studies examined histological changes in the thyroid gland follicles and showed that the volume of these cells was reduced. Based on the evidence discussed above, the reduction in diameter of thyroid follicles is potentially linked with cell phone radiation. Exposure may negatively influence the iodine uptake in the thyroid gland or increases temperature effect on the thyroid gland. However, further research are needed in order to show that the level of TSH and thyroid hormone suppression by microwave.

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/31062236?fbclid=IwAR3DJYgpGXmbNhB1jagBS80S-V0r3R39sSEdbHr6Cxy7ZclVJccQebTj-Bg

The post The possible global hazard of cell phone radiation on thyroid cells and hormones: a systematic review of evidences. appeared first on EMFSA.

The post The Effects of Electromagnetic Field on the Endocrine System in Children and Adolescents. appeared first on EMFSA.

Cancers in the head and neck are increasing in Sweden

The Swedish Radiation Safety Authority and some experts with ties to industry have argued during the last years that there are no health risks from mobile phone use since there is no increased incidence in brain tumours in Swedish and other cancer registries. This new data shows that the argument is not only wrong from an ethical point, it is also not in line with the data.

The Swedish Radiation Protection Foundation urges that the public is broadly informed about the health risks and that urgent measures to protect children and adults from health risks from mobile phone radiation are put in place, in line with the demand from over 230 scientists in EMF Scientists appeal, signed by 236 scientists. https://www.emfscientist.org/index.php/emf-scientist-appeal

Recently, Lennart Hardell’s group published a new article on brain tumor rates in Sweden using the Inpatient Register for the time period 1998-2015. Also incidence data using the Swedish Cancer Register was analyzed for the same time period. The full article can be found here http://journals.plos.org/plosone/article?id=10.1371/journal.pone.0185461 The abstract is below.

Hardell’s group used the Swedish Inpatient Register (IPR) to analyze rates of brain tumors of unknown type (D43) during 1998-2015. Average Annual Percentage Change (AAPC) per 100,000 increased with +2.06%, 95% confidence interval (CI) +1.27, +2.86% in both genders combined. A joinpoint was found in 2007 with Annual Percentage Change (APC) 1998-2007 of +0.16%, 95% CI -0.94, +1.28%, and 2007-2015 of +4.24%, 95% CI +2.87, +5.63%. Highest AAPC was found in the age group 20-39 years. In the Swedish Cancer Register the age-standardized incidence rate per 100,000 increased for brain tumors, ICD-code 193.0, during 1998-2015 with AAPC in men +0.49%, 95% CI +0.05, +0.94%, and in women +0.33%, 95% CI -0.29, +0.45%. The cases with brain tumor of unknown type lack morphological examination. Brain tumor diagnosis was based on cytology/histopathology in 83% for men and in 87% for women in 1980 in the Cancer Register. This frequency increased to 90% in men and 88% in women in 2015. During the same time period CT and MRI imaging techniques were introduced and morphology is not always necessary for diagnosis. If all brain tumors based on clinical diagnosis with CT or MRI had been reported to the Cancer Register the frequency of diagnoses based on cytology/histology would have decreased in the register. The results indicate underreporting of brain tumor cases to the Cancer Register. The real incidence would be higher. Thus, incidence trends based on the Cancer Register should be used with caution. Use of wireless phones should be considered in relation to the change of incidence rates.

Further reading:

BioInitiative Report: Medical concerns intensify over deadly brain tumors from cell phone use / Orebro University Hospital, Orebro, Sweden/November 17, 2017

Press Announcement BioInitiative Working Group 2017

BioInitiative Report: Medical concerns intensify over deadly brain tumors from cell phone use / Orebro University Hospital, Orebro, Sweden/November 17, 2017

This new update from the BioInitiative Working Group 2017 shows the evidence has strengthened for brain cancers related to wireless phone use. The Group has released an update analyzing scientific results of case-control studies published between 2010 and 2017 on cancers of the brain.

For glioma, a malignant brain cancer with a very poor survival rate especially for high-grade
glioma, there is nearly a doubling of the risk overall if the cell phone is used for 1,640 hours or
more. If the cell phone is used primarily on the same side of the head however, the odds of
getting a tumor on that side of the head increase to more than two and a half times compared to
those with no wireless phone exposure.
Survival time after brain tumor diagnosis is also shorter with wireless phone use in patients with
glioblastoma multiforme, compared to patients with no use.

“There is a consistent pattern of increased risk for glioma (a malignant brain tumor) and
acoustic neuroma with use of mobile and cordless phones” says Lennart Hardell, MD, PhD,
Orebro University, Sweden, according to publications through mid-2017. “Epidemiological
evidence shows that radiofrequency should be classified as a Group 1 (Known) Human
Carcinogen. The evidence for risks to health from brain tumors has substantially increased since
2010. The existing FCC/IEEE and ICNIRP public safety limits are not adequate to protect public
health.”
An increased risk in acoustic neuroma (a non-malignant tumor of the auditory nerve) is also
reported. Cell phone users with 1,640 hours or more of use are nearly two and three-quarters
more likely than non-users to develop an acoustic neuroma when the phone is used primarily on
the side of the head where the tumor occurs.
Both cell phones and cordless phones pose a risk of brain tumors.

Link to the Bioinitiative Press Announcement below:http://www.bioinitiative.org/bioinitiative-report-medical-concerns-intensify-over-deadly-brain-tumors-from-cell-phone-use-orebro-university-hospital-sweden-november-17-2017/

BioInitiative Report Supplement 11, 2017, Hardell and Carlberg Hardell-2017-Sec11-Update-Use_of_Wireless_Phones

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