Peer-reviewed veterinary case report
Feline thyroid disease and exposure to flame retardants PBDEs in cats
By Mensching, Donna A et al.·Published in Journal of toxicology and environmental health. Part A·2012·Department of Veterinary Biosciences, United States·View original on PubMed →
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Original publication title: The feline thyroid gland: a model for endocrine disruption by polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs)?
- Species:
- cat
Plain-English summary
A study looked at the link between household chemicals called polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs) and hyperthyroidism in cats. Researchers tested blood samples from 62 pet cats, including 41 with hyperthyroidism, and found that the levels of PBDEs in their blood didn't differ significantly from healthy cats. However, they discovered that cats living in homes with higher levels of PBDEs in the dust were more likely to have hyperthyroidism. This suggests that cats may be exposed to these chemicals mainly through dust in their homes, and more research is needed to understand how PBDEs might contribute to thyroid problems in cats and possibly in humans too.
People also search for: cat hyperthyroidism causes · PBDE exposure in cats · feline thyroid problems · how to treat hyperthyroidism in cats
Abstract
The role of polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDE) was investigated in the occurrence of feline hyperthyroidism (FH) by evaluating 15 PBDE congeners in serum from 62 client-owned (21 euthyroid, 41 hyperthyroid) and 10 feral cats. Total serum PBDE concentrations in euthyroid cats were not significantly different from those of hyperthyroid cats. Total serum PBDE in feral cats were significantly lower than in either of the groups of client-owned cats. Total serum PBDE did not correlate with serum total T4 concentration. Ten samples of commercial canned cat food and 19 dust samples from homes of client-owned cats were analyzed. Total PBDE in canned cat food ranged from 0.42 to 3.1 ng/g, and total PBDE in dust from 510 to 95,000 ng/g. Total PBDE in dust from homes of euthyroid cats ranged from 510 to 4900 ng/g. In dust from homes of hyperthyroid cats, total PBDE concentrations were significantly higher, ranging from 1100 to 95,000 ng/g. Dust PBDE and serum total T4 concentration were also significantly correlated. Estimates of PBDE exposures calculated from canned cat food and dust data suggest that domestic cats are primarily exposed through ingestion of household dust. These findings indicate further study of the role of PBDE is needed in the development of FH, which might identify the cat as a model and sentinel for humans with toxic nodular goiter (TNG).
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Search related cases →Original publication on PubMed: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/22352329/