Abstract
BackgroundThe fetal time period is a critical window of immune system development and resulting heightened susceptibility to the adverse effects of environmental exposures. Epidemiologists and toxicologists have hypothesized that persistent organic pollutants, pesticides and metals have immunotoxic properties. Immunotoxic effects may manifest as an altered immune system profile at birth. Immunoglobulin E, thymic stromal lymphopoietin (TSLP), and interleukin-33 (IL-33) may be implicated in the etiology of childhood allergy and are detectable at birth. The objective of this study was to examine the potential relationship between maternal concentrations of metals, persistent organic pollutants, and pesticides and elevated umbilical cord blood concentrations of IgE, TSLP, and IL-33 in a Canadian birth cohort.MethodsThis study utilized data collected in the Maternal-Infant Research on Environmental Chemicals (MIREC) Study, a trans-Canada cohort study of 2,001 pregnant women. Of these women, 1258 had a singleton, term birth and cord blood sample. Logistic regression was used to determine associations between log-transformed continuous variables and immune system biomarkers.ResultsInverse relationships were observed between lead, DDE, PCB-118, and a summary index of organophosphorous metabolites and jointly elevated concentrations of IL-33 and TSLP. None of the environmental contaminants were associated with increased odds of a high cord blood immune system biomarker concentration.ConclusionsIn this primarily urban Canadian population of pregnant women and their newborns, maternal blood or urine concentrations of persistent organic pollutants, pesticides, and metals were not associated with immunotoxic effects that manifest as increased odds of elevated concentrations of IgE, TSLP or IL-33.
Highlights
The fetal time period is a critical window of immune system development and resulting heightened susceptibility to the adverse effects of environmental exposures
Toxicologists and epidemiologists have hypothesized that metals [1, 4, 3], pesticides [5, 6], and polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) [7, 8] have immunotoxic properties
The objective of the present study was to determine the association between maternal concentrations of pesticides, PCBs, and metals and elevated cord blood concentrations of immunoglobulin E (IgE), thymic stromal lymphopoietin (TSLP), and IL-33 using data from a Canadian birth cohort
Summary
The fetal time period is a critical window of immune system development and resulting heightened susceptibility to the adverse effects of environmental exposures. Epidemiologists and toxicologists have hypothesized that persistent organic pollutants, pesticides and metals have immunotoxic properties. In utero exposures to certain environmental contaminants can trigger permanent, irreversible changes to the developing immune system. These changes may promote the persistence of skewed immune system responses and subsequent increased risk of an allergic phenotype [1,2,3]. Toxicologists and epidemiologists have hypothesized that metals [1, 4, 3], pesticides [5, 6], and polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) [7, 8] have immunotoxic properties. Many adults have detectable concentrations of persistent organic pollutants (POPs), including polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) [13] and certain organochlorine pesticides [14] due to their lipophilic and persistent nature [10]
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Free) 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a call
