Dr Dina Schreinemachers is the authors of 'Association between Perchlorate and Indirect Indicators of Thyroid Dysfunction in Nhanes 2001–2002, a Cross-Sectional, Hypothesis-Generating Study', recently published in Biomarker Insights.  We asked Dr Schreinemachers to tell us about the background to the paper.

To start please tell us about the genesis of your paper.  Why did you consider it to be important that it should be written? How does it advance existing knowledge in the field?

The purpose of this study was to investigate if exposure to perchlorate was associated with decreased levels of HDL.  In a previous study, decreased levels of HDL were observed in association with 2,4-D exposure.  Both perchlorate and 2,4-D are known thyroid hormone disruptors.  These results contribute information on the harmful effects of these environmental pollutants on human health.

When writing a paper what challenges do you face?  How did these challenges impact this particular paper?  Is there anything you plan to do differently in the future to avoid them?

The major challenge was trying to make sense of the data in this cross-sectional study.  I compare it to peeling an onion.  You have to take off layer after layer before figuring out the biology of what is going on.  This may be a characteristic of working with existing databases.

What is your opinion of other papers recently published within the subject area of your paper?  What do you think their strengths and weaknesses (if any) are?

Other papers recently published in the same field as my paper all contribute useful and necessary information.

How has the writing of this paper and its underlying research changed or developed your views or understanding of the field?  How has this affected your future research plans?

This paper has definitely developed my views of the field.  I have learned that it is not enough to only consider changes in thyroid hormones as a marker of thyroid hormone disruption.  It may also be very useful to investigate biomarkers that indicate disruption of thyroid hormone signaling.  This signaling disruption may occur without changes of thyroid hormone levels, and may be a risk factor for disease.  This is very clearly explained in “Zoeller TR. 1010. Environmental chemicals targeting thyroid.  Hormones 9(1) 28-40”.  Future studies will use these new insights.

Dr Schreinemachers can be contacted at:

 

share on