title: Exposure to urban pollutants and serum levels of IgG anti Herpes Simplex virus type 1.
abstract: The aim of the study is to investigate whether traffic policemen exposed to urban pollutants and psycho-social stressors may be at risk of modifications in serum levels of immunoglobulins G antibodies (IgG Ab) against Herpes Simplex Virus (type1) (HSV-1) compared with controls. Traffic policemen were matched by sex, age, working life and drinking habits (less than two glasses of wine or beer per day) with controls, after excluding the subjects with the principal confounding factors (smoking habit, use of paints, solvents, pesticides and drinking habits). Were included in the study 125 traffic policemen (54 men and 71 women) with outdoor activity and 125 controls (54 men and 71 women) with indoor activity. Mean levels of IgG Ab against HSV-1 were significantly higher in traffic policemen of both sexes compared with controls. The frequency of workers with IgG Ab against HSV-1 levels higher than our normal laboratory values, was significant in traffic policemen compared with controls of both sexes. The distributions of IgG Ab against HSV-1 levels in traffic policemen compared with controls of both sexes were significant. The authors hypothesise an effect of the working activity in traffic policemen on serum levels of IgG Ab against HSV-1 compared to controls.
authors.affiliation: University of Rome La Sapienza, Department of Occupational Medicine, Viale Regina Elena 336, Rome 00161, Italy.
authors.forename: Francesco
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Tomei
authors.forename: Maria Valeria
authors.initials: MV
authors.lastname: Rosati
authors.forename: Tiziana Paola
authors.initials: TP
authors.lastname: Baccolo
authors.forename: Monica
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Gaballo
authors.forename: Manuela
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Ciarrocca
authors.forename: Enrico
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Tomao
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000395:Air Pollutants, Occupational / Q000009:adverse effects*; D000914:Antibodies, Viral / Q000097:blood*; D001336:Automobiles; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D005260:Female; D018259:Herpesvirus 1, Human / Q000276:immunology*; D006801:Humans; D007074:Immunoglobulin G / Q000097:blood*; D007558:Italy; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D016495:Police; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014504:Urban Health; D001335:Vehicle Emissions / Q000009:adverse effects*
chemical_list: D000395:Air Pollutants, Occupational; D000914:Antibodies, Viral; D007074:Immunoglobulin G; D001335:Vehicle Emissions