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Frontispiece: Halogen Bonding Interactions of Polychlorinated Biphenyls and the Potential for Thyroid Disruption
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This research note describes how polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) — persistent pollutants that adsorb onto microplastics — can bind to thyroid hormone-activating enzymes through halogen bonding, potentially disrupting thyroid function in marine organisms and the humans who eat seafood. Microplastics act as carriers that concentrate and deliver these endocrine disruptors to marine life.
Polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) are known endocrine disrupting pollutants found in microplastics. These persistent contaminants pose a threat to marine ecosystems and the human populations that depend on the sea for food. Density functional theory models provide support for a mechanism of toxicity through which halogen bonding of PCBs to selenoprotein deiodinases (DIO) block thyroid hormone activation. Art by Jordan Shackelford. For more information see the Full Paper by E. S. Marsan and C. A. Bayse on page 5200 ff.
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When a large batch of papers lands in the Atlas, we read through it and send a short write-up of what stood out.