Environmental Influences on Immune Function and Toxicity

Impact of Environmental Exposures on Immune Development

• Exposure to diverse microorganisms during childhood may protect against development of allergies and asthma (hygiene hypothesis) 1, 2, 3
• Children growing up in environments with complex microbial populations (like farms) show reduced risk of asthma and atopy 1, 3
• Endotoxin, a component of gram-negative bacterial cell walls, may stimulate the young immune system to develop TH1 response pathways instead of allergy-associated TH2 pathways 3

Effects of Environmental Toxins on Immune Function

• Environmental toxins like PFAS (per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances) can disrupt immune function 4, 5, 6
• PFAS exposure has been associated with reduced antibody production in response to vaccinations, particularly in children 5, 6
• PFAS exposure is also linked to an increased risk of respiratory tract and gastrointestinal infections 5, 6
• Potential worsening of pre-existing asthma and allergic reactions has been observed with PFAS exposure 5

Immune System Vulnerability and Development

• The immune system is particularly vulnerable during development 5
• Perturbations during development from immunotoxicants can have more severe and long-lasting effects than those occurring during adulthood 5
• Factors from conception through early childhood influence immune system development and disease susceptibility 1, 7