EFFECT OF CADMIUM BODY BURDEN ON IMMUNE-RESPONSE OF SCHOOL-CHILDREN

The effects of cadmium on measures of immune-system function were dete rmined from a health survey of school children in heavily polluted reg ions of eastern Germany. A representative sample of 842 students, aged 5-14 y,was included in logistic regression analyses in which the rela tionship between urinary cadmium content and blood immunoglobulin leve ls was examined. Investigators further evaluated a subsample of 807 st udents to determine cadmium's effect on the immediate hypersensitivity reactions elicited by skin-prick challenges with 12 common aeroallerg ens. Several potentially confounding factors were controlled for, afte r which investigators found that increasing body burdens of cadmium we re associated consistently with dose-dependent suppression of immediat e hypersensitivity and of immunoglobin G, but not immunoglobulins M, A , or E levels. The immunoglobulin pattern observed in exposed children led investigators to suggest that secondary humoral responses were im paired by cadmium.