Immunologic reactivity in children with bronchial asthma living in areas with well-developed metallurgical industry

Background. Exposure to heavy metals in children living in close proximity to metallurgical enterprises may cause systemic health disorders aggravating the prior disease course.

Objective. To identify the features of immunological reactivity in children with bronchial asthma (BA) living in areas with well-developed metallurgical industry.

Patients. We examined two groups of patients. The study group comprised 54 children (aged 5-12 years) with BA living in close proximity to metallurgical enterprises. The control group comprised 77 children with BA from relatively unpolluted areas.

Results. The findings indicated a cause-effect relation between respiratory disease incidence (OR=2.95) and manganese (Mn) and vanadium (V) air pollution. The study group levels of Mn and V in blood were 0.0032±0.0011 µg/ml and 0.0255±0.0023 µg/ml, respectively, which was 2.4- and 1.7-fold higher compared to the control group (0.0016±0.0001 µg/ml and 0.0171±0.0013 µg/ml, respectively, p

Conclusions. Changes in immunological reactivity are environmentally determined and may be caused by exposure to Mn and V.

Source: Proceedings of the VI World Congress on Immunopathology and Respiratory Allergy.