Understanding the Effect of PFAS (‘Forever Chemicals’) on Thyroid Function

SUMMARY: Researchers will study the effect of PFAS exposure on thyroid function in dogs enrolled in the Golden Retriever Lifetime Study

THE PROBLEM: Interest in per- and poly-fluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) has spiked in the last decade. PFAS exposure is linked to several disease conditions in people, including alterations in thyroid function. To date, no longitudinal studies investigating the impact of PFAS exposure on domestic dogs have been conducted, and no lifetime effects have been assessed epidemiologically in any species. The Morris Animal Foundation Golden Retriever Lifetime Study (GRLS) cohort provides a unique opportunity to address this gap.

THE PROJECT: The team will assess associations between longitudinal serum PFAS levels and the diagnosis of hypothyroidism in golden retrievers, assess associations between serum PFAS levels and thyroid hormones, and utilize the sub-cohort to explore other potential correlations between serum PFAS levels, bloodwork variations and disease development.

POTENTIAL IMPACT: The goal of the study is to understand the effect of PFAS exposure on the development of hypothyroidism in golden retrievers. The proposed study will be the first longitudinal assessment of the effects of PFAS in dogs. While not the primary goal of this study, the condensed lifespan of the dog, along with its daily environment and propensity to develop diseases shared with humans, provides opportunities for the dog to be an excellent sentinel species for assessing contaminant exposure for human health.