E-waste polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon (PAH) exposure leads to child gut-mucosal inflammation and adaptive immune response

Guangcan Chen, Xia Huo, Xiuli Luo, Zhiheng Cheng, Yuling Zhang, Xijin Xu*

*Corresponding author for this work

    Research output: Contribution to journalArticleAcademicpeer-review

    17 Citations (Scopus)
    160 Downloads (Pure)

    Abstract

    Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon (PAH) exposure alters immunological responses. Research concerning PAH exposure on intestinal immunity of children in electronic waste (e-waste) areas is scarce. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon (PAH) pollutants on intestinal mucosal immunity of children in e-waste areas. Results showed higher hydroxylated PAH (OH-PAH) concentrations in e-waste-exposed children, accompanied with higher sialyl Lewis A (SLA) level, absolute lymphocyte and monocyte counts, decreased of percentage of CD4(+) T cells, and had a higher risk of diarrhea. OH-PAH concentrations were negative with child growth. 1-OHNap mediated through WBCs, along with 1-OHPyr, was correlated with an increase SLA concentration. 2-OHFlu, 1-OHPhe, 2-OHPhe, 1-OHPyr, and 6-OHChr were positively correlated with secretory immunoglobulin A (sIgA) concentration. Our results indicated that PAH pollutants caused inflammation, affected the intestinal epithelium, and led to transformation of microfold cell (M cell). M cells initiating mucosal immune responses and the subsequent increasing sIgA production might be an adaptive immune respond of children in the e-waste areas. To our knowledge, this is the first study of PAH exposure on children intestinal immunity in e-waste area, showing that PAH exposure plays a negative role in child growth and impairs the intestinal immune function.

    Original languageEnglish
    Pages (from-to)53267-53281
    Number of pages15
    JournalEnvironmental Science and Pollution Research
    Volume28
    Issue number38
    Early online date24-May-2021
    DOIs
    Publication statusPublished - Oct-2021

    Keywords

    • Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon
    • E-waste
    • Secretory immunoglobulin A
    • Sialyl Lewis A
    • Intestinal immunity
    • Adaptive immunity
    • UMBILICAL-CORD BLOOD
    • OXIDATIVE STRESS
    • PRENATAL EXPOSURE
    • INTERNAL EXPOSURE
    • BIRTH OUTCOMES
    • PEYERS-PATCHES
    • M-CELLS
    • ASSOCIATION
    • RISK
    • METABOLITES

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