title: Immunological alterations in sera of persons living in areas with different air pollution.
abstract: The present study aimed to investigate immune parameters in sera of adult persons chronically exposed to different degrees of ambient air pollution. As related to air pollution derived from coal mining industry and coke plants, a significantly increased prevalence of cases with abnormally high serum levels of the immunoglobulins IgA and IgM as well as the complement component C3c was found as compared with a less polluted control area, indicating a higher stimulation of acute reactants in combination with a polyclonal immune response. These findings may be attributed to elevated concentrations of airborne particulates, suggesting that permanent exposure to increased levels of airborne particulates leads to chronic irritation of the airways in association with activation of the immune system, which may give rise to an enhanced risk for chronic airway diseases.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Hygiene, Heinrich-Heine-University, Düsseldorf, Germany.
authors.forename: W
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Hadnagy
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Stiller-Winkler
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Idel
mesh_terms: D000393:Air Pollutants / Q000009:adverse effects*; D000917:Antibody Formation / Q000187:drug effects*; D015415:Biomarkers; D003032:Coal Mining; D015932:Complement C3c / Q000032:analysis; D004784:Environmental Monitoring; D062665:Epidemiological Monitoring; D005260:Female; D005858:Germany / Q000453:epidemiology; D006073:Gout / Q000453:epidemiology; D006801:Humans; D007111:Immunity, Cellular / Q000187:drug effects*; D007070:Immunoglobulin A / Q000097:blood; D007074:Immunoglobulin G / Q000097:blood; D007075:Immunoglobulin M / Q000097:blood; D007674:Kidney Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology; D008107:Liver Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology; D008669:Metallurgy; D008875:Middle Aged; D016017:Odds Ratio; D015995:Prevalence; D012130:Respiratory Hypersensitivity / Q000453:epidemiology; D012216:Rheumatic Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology; D012907:Smoking / Q000276:immunology
chemical_list: D000393:Air Pollutants; D015415:Biomarkers; D007070:Immunoglobulin A; D007074:Immunoglobulin G; D007075:Immunoglobulin M; D015932:Complement C3c