Could Environmental Radiation Be Contributing to Your Thyroid Disorder?

Despite its miniscule dimensions, the tiny thyroid gland plays an outsize role in determining the healthy functioning of the human body. Among its many unique qualities, the thyroid gland has a very high level of sensitivity to radiation in the environment.

Before the twentieth century, the thyroid gland's unusual sensitivity to radiation was not recognized. But as mankind gained the once-unimaginable power to manipulate atoms and handle radioactive materials, ushering in the advent of technologies as diverse as x-rays, radiation therapy, and atomic weapons, this unique property was suddenly thrown into sharp focus.

The thyroid gland absorbs iodine from the bloodstream. However, the gland cannot distinguish between stable iodine and radioactive iodine. As such, in the aftermath of a radioactive explosion or another type of exposure to environmental radiation, the thyroid gland often serves as the suppository for the absorbed substance.

Some scientists have posited that the thyroid's unique ability to store radioactive iodine may be the cause of the dramatic increase seen in thyroid cancer diagnoses in recent years. Although the debate over the significance of environmental radiation continues to range among the endocrinology community, researchers around the world are working to assess the environment's impact on thyroid health. This week, we'll review a few of the key findings that have been reported in recent months.

Study Shows How Radiation Exposure Causes Illness and Injury

While it has long been recognized that radiation exposure often has deleterious health effects, the precise pathways of radiation damage in the body have remained shrouded in mystery. However, the results of a recent study conducted by scientists at renowned research institute MIT have helped to shed more light on the link between radiation and several significant illnesses, including thyroid disorders.

According to the study, a new technique that has been devised can pinpoint with great precision the sites at which radiation damage has occurred. The advanced imaging technology involves the injection of boron into the bloodstream. Then, a special tool is used to temporarily irradiate the body, illuminating areas of damage.

Based on preliminary findings, changes in tissue structure and cell function are the earliest indications of radiation exposure that can eventually cause cancer or other illnesses. Although more investigation is necessary to confirm these findings, the researchers noted that the new technique may be used to develop radiation therapies that are not as invasive or harmful as current methods.

Scientists Study Risks of Secondary Cancer in Patients Who Have Undergone Radiation Therapy

Thanks to numerous medical advances, the survival rates for many types of cancer are now higher than ever. However, these successes have given rise to a number of unforeseen issues -- including an increased risk of secondary cancer among long-term cancer survival. In other words, a growing number of patients who have survived a first bout with cancer are later developing tumors and cancers thought to be caused by radiation therapy.

A team of researchers recently undertook a large-scale analysis of the scientific findings pertaining to radiation-based secondary cancers, the results of which were detailed in the latest volume of the journal Radiation Research. According to their findings, although there does seem to be a clear health risk associated with radiation-based cancer therapy, there is too much variance between treatments and individual cases to derive any sweeping conclusions from the epidemiological patterns.

However, the team did note that one clear recommended change in protocol emerged from the research -- the risk of secondary cancer was decreased considerably when the dose is held to a maximum of ~0.1 Gy. The scientists urged medical professionals who treat cancer patients to keep these guidelines in mind when designing courses of radiation therapy.

Survivors of Atomic Bomb Deployment and Testing Show Higher Incidences of Thyroid Cancers and Other Thyroid Disorders

From the first detonation of an atomic bomb, it was recognized that these weapons were capable of causing destruction on a scale never before imagined. However, what was not initially understood were many of the long-term health problems that would plague those exposed to the blast.

Follow-up studies conducted on populations of survivors who were exposed to wartime blasts and pre-war bomb tests now indicate a sharply increased risk of thyroid cancer and other thyroid disorders among these groups. A recent study of Japanese survivors of the Hiroshima bomb showed thyroid cysts, tumors, and other cancerous growths that far outpaced the rates seen in the general population. Tests on survivors and survivors' descendants in the region of the Chernobyl accident site have revealed similar findings.

Among survivors who withstood first-hand exposure to a bomb blast, thyroid tumors were most likely to occur 55-58 years after exposure. Furthermore, the Hiroshima data showed that the younger the individual was at the time of exposure, the higher their risk was of developing cancer later in life. This result was also found to hold true in tests done around the Chernobyl site. The authors of the study emphasize the importance of monitoring the thyroid health of those exposed to radiation, particularly infants, children, and young adults.

If you're concerned about the role environmental radiation may be playing in your thyroid health, consult with your physician for a personalized risk profile. Please check back each week for more of the research news you need to achieve optimal thyroid health.