{
  "abstract": "Differentiated thyroid cancer (DTC) incidence has increased over recent decades. Environmental risk factors may contribute, but little information is available on cumulative exposures to environmental chemicals in human thyroid tumors. This pilot study screened for and characterized environmental chemicals in DTC and non-cancer cadaver thyroid tissues, and explored differences in chemical profiles between tumor types as a secondary goal. Surgical samples from patients undergoing total or subtotal thyroidectomy for thyroid cancer in Atlanta, GA (USA) were procured from a biorepository (N = 60 representing three types: papillary thyroid carcinoma [PTC], follicular thyroid carcinoma [FTC], and invasive encapsulated follicular variant of PTC [IEFVPTC]; n = 20/type), along with cadaveric non-cancer thyroids for comparison (n = 8). An exposomics analysis was performed using gas chromatography–mass spectrometry to screen for chemicals from a library of 709 xenobiotic compounds. Overall, 442 environmental chemicals were annotated, including insecticides, herbicides, chemical synthesis intermediates, dye intermediates, flavoring or fragrance agents, plasticizers, solvents, combustion byproducts, fungicides, flame retardants, preservatives, polychlorinated biphenyls, lubricants, and per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances. Of these, 40 % were potential endocrine-disrupting chemicals. Twenty-nine identified chemicals differed between types; PTC samples in particular had higher levels of several combustion byproducts, insecticides and pesticides, and herbicides, many of which were known, likely, or possible carcinogens. However, no type-specific differences remained significant following correction for multiple comparisons. Two IARC Group 1 carcinogens, o-toluidine and 4-aminobiphenyl, were higher in tumors than in non-cancer thyroids. This study provides evidence for accumulation of environmental chemicals in human DTC and posits that specific pollutants may influence type-specific carcinogenesis. Larger and more geographically diverse cohorts are needed to determine the generalizability of these findings.",
  "abstract_shown": true,
  "affiliations": [
    "Medical Scientist Training Program, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA 30322, USA",
    "Nutrition and Health Sciences, Laney Graduate School, Emory University, Atlanta, GA 30322, USA",
    "Division of Pulmonary, Allergy, Critical Care and Sleep Medicine, Department of Medicine, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA 30322, USA",
    "Division of General and GI Surgery, Department of Surgery, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA 30322, USA",
    "Molecular and Systems Pharmacology, Laney Graduate School, Emory University, Atlanta, GA 30322, USA",
    "Gangarosa Department of Environmental Health, Rollins School of Public Health, Emory University, Atlanta, GA 30322, USA",
    "Winship Cancer Institute, Emory University, Atlanta, GA 30322, USA",
    "VA Healthcare System of Atlanta, Decatur, GA 30033, USA"
  ],
  "article_type": "research article",
  "arxiv": null,
  "author_total": 20,
  "authors": [
    {
      "affs": [
        0,
        1,
        2
      ],
      "name": "Joshua D. Preston",
      "orcid": "0000-0001-9834-3017"
    },
    {
      "affs": [
        2
      ],
      "name": "Yongliang Liang"
    },
    {
      "affs": [
        3
      ],
      "name": "Thomas Szabo Yamashita",
      "orcid": "0000-0002-2786-6678"
    },
    {
      "affs": [
        2
      ],
      "name": "Sami Teeny"
    },
    {
      "affs": [
        2,
        4
      ],
      "name": "Jaclyn Weinberg",
      "orcid": "0000-0002-1855-3338"
    },
    {
      "affs": [
        2,
        4
      ],
      "name": "William J. Crandall",
      "orcid": "0000-0002-2537-2033"
    },
    {
      "affs": [
        2
      ],
      "name": "Zachery R. Jarrell",
      "orcid": "0000-0003-4670-1497"
    },
    {
      "affs": [
        2,
        5
      ],
      "name": "Xin Hu"
    },
    {
      "affs": [
        3
      ],
      "name": "Susan A. Safley"
    },
    {
      "affs": [
        6
      ],
      "name": "Jennifer M. Robertson",
      "orcid": "0000-0002-1613-0091"
    },
    {
      "affs": [
        2
      ],
      "name": "ViLinh Tran",
      "orcid": "0009-0006-0833-6168"
    },
    {
      "affs": [
        3
      ],
      "name": "Anee S. Jackson"
    },
    {
      "affs": [
        3
      ],
      "name": "Snehal G. Patel"
    },
    {
      "affs": [
        3
      ],
      "name": "Logan D. Glosser",
      "orcid": "0000-0003-0978-7930"
    },
    {
      "affs": [
        3
      ],
      "name": "Collin J. Weber"
    },
    {
      "affs": [
        3
      ],
      "name": "Jyotirmay Sharma"
    },
    {
      "affs": [
        3
      ],
      "name": "Neil D. Saunders",
      "orcid": "0000-0002-5192-0945"
    },
    {
      "affs": [
        2
      ],
      "name": "Young-Mi Go"
    },
    {
      "affs": [
        2
      ],
      "name": "Dean P. Jones"
    },
    {
      "affs": [
        2,
        7
      ],
      "name": "M. Ryan Smith",
      "orcid": "0000-0002-8889-3477"
    }
  ],
  "bibtex": "https://research.draconitic.com/paper/1rwtnmhjc38r9.bib",
  "cited_by": 0,
  "doi": "10.1016/j.envint.2026.110535",
  "fulltext_url": "https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC13742285/",
  "id": "1rwtnmhjc38r9",
  "issns": [
    "0160-4120",
    "1873-6750"
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  "landing_url": "https://doi.org/10.1016/j.envint.2026.110535",
  "language": "en",
  "licence": "CC-BY-NC-ND-4.0",
  "licence_label": "CC BY-NC-ND 4.0",
  "licence_source": "article",
  "licence_url": "https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/",
  "metadata_licence": null,
  "native_subjects": [
    [
      "heading",
      "Article"
    ],
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      "openalex",
      "2307|Effects and risks of endocrine disrupting chemicals"
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  "openalex": "W7213918443",
  "pdf_url": "https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0160412026004939/pdf",
  "pmcid": "PMC13742285",
  "pmid": "42805002",
  "published": "2026-09-21",
  "publisher": null,
  "ris": "https://research.draconitic.com/paper/1rwtnmhjc38r9.ris",
  "sources": [
    {
      "first_seen": "2026-11-10T12:23:09Z",
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      "url": "https://doi.org/10.1016/j.envint.2026.110535"
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  "subjects": [
    {
      "field": "medicine",
      "origin": "openalex:2307|Effects and risks of endocrine disrupting chemicals",
      "subfield": "pharmacology-toxicology"
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  ],
  "title": "Environmental chemical burden in differentiated thyroid cancer",
  "title_text": "Environmental chemical burden in differentiated thyroid cancer",
  "type": "peer-reviewed",
  "updated_at": "2026-11-10T12:23:09Z",
  "url": "https://research.draconitic.com/paper/1rwtnmhjc38r9",
  "venue": "Environment international",
  "versions": []
}