title: Decreased blood hepatitis B surface antibody levels linked to e-waste lead exposure in preschool children.
abstract: Lead (Pb) is a widespread environmental contaminant that can profoundly affect the immune system in vaccinated children. To explore the association between blood Pb and HBsAb levels in children chronically exposed to Pb, we measured hepatitis B surface antibody (HBsAb) titers, to reflect the immune response in the children of Guiyu, an electronic and electrical waste (e-waste) recycling area well known for environmental Pb contamination. We performed secondary exploratory analyses of blood Pb levels and plasma HBsAb titers in samples, taken in two phases between 2011 and 2012, from 590 children from Guiyu (exposed group) and Haojiang (reference group). Children living in the exposed area had higher blood Pb levels and lower HBsAb titers compared with children from the reference area. At each phase, generalized linear mixed models (GLMMs) showed that HBsAb titers were significantly negatively associated with child blood Pb levels. This work shows that a decreased immune response to hepatitis B vaccine and immune system might have potential harm to children with chronic Pb exposure. Importantly, nearly 50% of chronically exposed children failed to develop sufficient immunity to hepatitis in response to vaccination. Thus different vaccination strategies are needed for children living under conditions of chronic Pb exposure.
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Environmental Medicine and Developmental Toxicology, and Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Infectious Diseases, Shantou University Medical College, Shantou 515041, Guangdong, China; Department of Cell Biology and Genetics, Shantou University Medical College, Shantou 515041, Guangdong, China.
authors.forename: Xijin
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Xu
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Environmental Medicine and Developmental Toxicology, and Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Infectious Diseases, Shantou University Medical College, Shantou 515041, Guangdong, China.
authors.forename: Xiaojuan
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Environmental Medicine and Developmental Toxicology, and Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Infectious Diseases, Shantou University Medical College, Shantou 515041, Guangdong, China.
authors.forename: Jian
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.affiliation: Department of Public Health, Shantou University Medical College, Shantou 515041, Guangdong, China.
authors.forename: Pi
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Guo
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Environmental Medicine and Developmental Toxicology, and Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Infectious Diseases, Shantou University Medical College, Shantou 515041, Guangdong, China.
authors.forename: Tingzao
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Fu
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Environmental Medicine and Developmental Toxicology, and Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Infectious Diseases, Shantou University Medical College, Shantou 515041, Guangdong, China.
authors.forename: Yifeng
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Dai
authors.affiliation: Department of Pathophysiology and Key Immunopathology Laboratory of Guangdong Province, Shantou University Medical College, Shantou 515041, Guangdong, China.
authors.forename: Stanley L
authors.initials: SL
authors.lastname: Lin
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Environmental Medicine and Developmental Toxicology, and Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Infectious Diseases, Shantou University Medical College, Shantou 515041, Guangdong, China. Electronic address: xhuo@stu.edu.cn.
authors.forename: Xia
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Huo
mesh_terms: D000367:Age Factors; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D002681:China; D059029:Electronic Waste / Q000009:adverse effects*; D004781:Environmental Exposure; D004785:Environmental Pollutants / Q000009:adverse effects*; D006509:Hepatitis B / Q000276:immunology / Q000517:prevention & control; D006510:Hepatitis B Antibodies / Q000097:blood*; D006514:Hepatitis B Surface Antigens / Q000276:immunology; D017325:Hepatitis B Vaccines; D006801:Humans; D007109:Immunity / Q000187:drug effects; D007854:Lead / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000097:blood; D016014:Linear Models; D012737:Sex Factors
chemical_list: D004785:Environmental Pollutants; D006510:Hepatitis B Antibodies; D006514:Hepatitis B Surface Antigens; D017325:Hepatitis B Vaccines; D007854:Lead
keywords: Children; Electronic waste; Hepatitis B surface antibody; Lead; Vaccination