title: Association between palladium urinary concentrations and diseases of the thyroid and the immune system.
abstract: The German Environmental Specimen Bank found that students suffering from diseases of the thyroid or the immune system had increased palladium urinary values compared to healthy individuals. Since the immunotoxic features of palladium are well known, there may be a causal relationship. Sources of palladium were identified as dental alloys, the chemical industry, oil- or coal-driven power plants and the consumption of meat products.
authors.affiliation: Federal Environmental Agency, Section Environmental Monitoring, P.O. Box 33 00 22, D-14191 Berlin, Germany. dieter.helm@uba.de
authors.forename: Dieter
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Helm
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001327:Autoimmune Diseases / Q000209:etiology* / Q000276:immunology; D002617:Chemical Industry; D003722:Dental Alloys; D004781:Environmental Exposure; D005260:Female; D005858:Germany; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D010165:Palladium / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000652:urine*; D011210:Power Plants; D013959:Thyroid Diseases / Q000209:etiology* / Q000276:immunology*
chemical_list: D003722:Dental Alloys; D010165:Palladium