Associations between complex OHC mixtures and thyroid and cortisol hormone levels in East Greenland polar bears

The multivariate relationship between hair cortisol, whole blood thyroid hormones, and the complex mixtures of organohalogen contaminant (OHC) levels measured in subcutaneous adipose of 23 East Greenland polar bears (eight males and 15 females, all sampled between the years 1999 and 2001) was analyzed using projection to latent structure (PLS) regression modeling. In the resulting PLS model, most important variables with a negative influence on cortisol levels were particularly BDE-99, but also CB-180, -201, BDE-153, and CB-170/190. The most important variables with a positive influence on cortisol were CB-66/95, α-HCH, TT3, as well as heptachlor epoxide, dieldrin, BDE-47, p,p′-DDD. Although statistical modeling does not necessarily fully explain biological cause–effect relationships, relationships indicate that (1) the hypothalamic–pituitary–adrenal (HPA) axis in East Greenland polar bears is likely to be affected by OHC-contaminants and (2) the association between OHCs and cortisol may be linked with the hypothalamus–pituitary–thyroid (HPT) axis.

► Cortisol was measured in hair of East Greenland polar bears.
► The relationship with thyroid hormones and contaminant levels was investigated.
► Results indicate the HPA axis to be affected by contaminants.
► The association between contaminants and cortisol may be linked with the HPT axis.