Serum immunoglobulins and lymphocyte subset distributions in children and adults living in communities assessed for lead and cadmium exposure.
J Toxicol Environ Health A
; 60(1): 1-15, 2000 May 12.
Article
em En
| MEDLINE
| ID: mdl-10832614
ABSTRACT
This study assessed the impact of environmental cadmium and lead exposure on the immune system of more than 2000 children and adults. Serum immunoglobulins [immunoglobulins (Ig) A, G, and M] and peripheral blood lymphocyte phenotypes (T cells, B cells, NK cells, and CD4/CD8 subsets) were measured in a total of 2041 children and adults who lived either in sites with elevated soil levels of cadmium and lead (n = 1561) or in comparison communities (n = 480). The blood lead and urine cadmium levels of participants were somewhat higher than national averages. Mean blood lead levels were 7 microg/dl for participants aged 6-35 mo; 6 microg/dl for participants aged 36-71 mo, 4 microg/dl for participants aged 6-15 yr; and 4.3 microg/dl for participants aged 16-75 yr. Multivariate analysis indicated no marked differences in any of the immune marker distributions attributed to lead for adults or children over 3 yr of age. However, in children under age 3, increased blood lead levels, principally those over 15 microg/dl, were associated with increases in IgA, IgG, IgM, and circulating B lymphocytes. Among adults, urine cadmium levels over 1.5 microg/g were associated with higher levels of IgA and circulating B lymphocytes. No evidence of immunosuppression was noted. The findings of potential immunologic effects at lead levels > 15 microg/dl in young children and at urine cadmium levels > 1.5 microg/g in adults are interesting, but too few participants had these high levels to delineate a threshold. Therefore, we find these results intriguing, but requiring confirmation in populations with higher exposure levels.
Buscar no Google
Coleções:
01-internacional
Base de dados:
MEDLINE
Assunto principal:
Cádmio
/
Imunoglobulinas
/
Subpopulações de Linfócitos
/
Chumbo
Limite:
Adolescent
/
Adult
/
Aged
/
Child
/
Child, preschool
/
Humans
/
Infant
/
Middle aged
Idioma:
En
Revista:
J Toxicol Environ Health A
Assunto da revista:
SAUDE AMBIENTAL
/
TOXICOLOGIA
Ano de publicação:
2000
Tipo de documento:
Article
País de afiliação:
Estados Unidos