Toxin exposure before birth could explain asthma
11 October
2005
by Richard
Conan-Davies
|
Low levels of environmental toxins like, mercury , lead and dioxin, nicotine and ethanol, could be behind recent sharp rises in asthma, allergies and autoimmune disorders like lupus. This is according to research from Cornel Univeristy led by Rod Dietert, who is suggesting that more research needs to be done in to the effects of toxins on the immune system of fetuses. "Exposure to certain drugs and chemicals in the last trimester can really mess things up," explained Dietert. For example, lead can interfere with immune-dependent reproductive development; dioxin or nicotine around birth can prevent the crucial maturation steps of certain immune cells, called dendritic cells; and ethanol can impair the ability of immune cells called macrophages to mature in response to lung surface proteins that are produced just before birth. |
 image: clearlyexplained.com |
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Original press release from Cornell Univeristy
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