EFFECT OF PASSIVE SMOKING ON THYROID-FUNCTION IN INFANTS

Objective: To evaluate the effect of passive smoking on thyroid functi on in infants. Design and methods: Cord serum tri-iodiothyronine (T-3) free T-3 (fT(3)), thyroxine (T-4), free T-4 (fT(4)). TSH. thyroxine b inding globulin (TBG), thyroglobulin (TG) and cord plasma thiocyanate were measured at birth, and serum TG and thiocyanate after 1 year of l ife, in 18 infants born from parents who did not smoke (group A), in 1 8 infants with a father who smoked (group B) and in 18 infants with pa rents both being smokers (group C). Results: No significant difference s were observed in cord serum concentrations of T-3, fT(3), T-4, fT(4) , TSH and TBG among the three groups. Median (range) TG concentrations (ng/ml) were 30.2 (5.0-102.0), 56.3 (20.5-208.0) and 76.0 (26.0-199.0 ) at birth (P=0.009 for groups A and B compared: P=0.0002 for groups A and C compared), and 14.9 (5.4-32.0), 19.5 (10.0-57.5) and 20.0 (14.0 -40.7) at 1 year (P=0.017 for groups A and C compared), in the three g roups respectively and thiocyanate concentrations (mmol/l) were 3.3 (0 .0-51.4), 12.9 (0.0-122.2) and 27.8 (3.3-184.5) at birth (P=0.015 for groups A and C compared), and 3.1 (0.0-32.7), 6.0 (0.0-47.3) and 20.3 (0.0-230.8) at 1 year (P=0.01 for groups A and C compared) in the thre e groups respectively. Conclusions: TG and thiocyanate concentrations at birth and at 1 year of age in infants of smoking parents are greate r than in infants with non-smoking parents. These results indicate tha t the change in thyroid function as evaluated by serum TG concentratio ns observed at birth can persist at least for 1 year if the exposure t o passive smoking from both parents is continued. Increased TG concent rations may be due to a direct effect of thiocyanate on the thyroid gl and.