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Associations between Blood Levels of Polychlorinated Dibenzo-p-dioxins/Furans and Polychlorinated Biphenyls with Immune Systems

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Abstract

Objective

This study assessed the associations between blood levels of polychlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxins (PCDDs), polychlorinated dibenzofurans (PCDFs), and polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) and humoral and cellmediated immune response.

Methods

The subjects included 53 male workers who had worked at industrial waste incinerators for more than one year. The experimental groups were divided into indoor, field, and incinerator workers according to working process. Data on their lifestyles and occupational characteristics were collected using a survey, and blood levels of PCDDs, PCDFs, and PCBs were analyzed to determine their associations with T-lymphocyte subpopulations and immunoglobulin levels.

Results

The results showed that total blood dioxins PCB levels were higher in field and incinerator workers (20.46±22.21 and 21.97±18.05 pg toxic equivalence [TEQ]/g fat, respectively) than in indoor workers (7.69± 2.05 pg TEQ/g fat). CD3+, CD4+, CD8+, and CD4+ CD45RO+ cells among T-lymphocyte subpopulations and IgE and IgM levels among immunoglobulins were slightly higher in field and incinerator workers than those in indoor workers, with no statistical significance (p<0.05). Multiple linear regression analysis with Tlymphocyte subpopulations and immunoglobulins as dependent variables and PCDDS, PCDFs, and PCBs as independent variables showed that PCBs were negatively associated with CD3+ levels (B value=-56.890, 95% confidence interval [CI]=-104.39→ -9.392, p< 0.05) and were positively associated with the CD4+/CD8+ ratio (B value=0.149, 95% CI=0.001-0.297, p<0.05). In addition, PCB levels were associated with IgE (B value=248.703, 95% CI=153.79-343.62, p< 0.01), IgG (B value=52.078, 95% CI=0.344-103.812, p<0.05) and IgM levels (B value=53.153, 95% CI= 32.087-74.219, p<0.01).

Conclusion

These findings was obtained from a small number of subjects; hence, further studies including more subjects are necessary to validate the associations between blood levels of PCDDs, PCDFs, and PCBs and immune function.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Chemical Research Bureau, Occupational Safety and Health Research Institute, Korea Occupational Safety and Health Agency, 30, Expo-ro 339 beon-gil, Yuseong-gu, Daejeon, 34122, Republic of Korea

    Ki-Woong Kim

  2. Occupational Health Research Bureau, Occupational Safety and Health Research Institute, Korea Occupational Safety and Health Agency, 400, Jongga-ro, Jung-gu, Ulsan, 44429, Republic of Korea

    Yong Lim Won

  3. National Institute of Occupational Safety and Health, Nagao 6-21-1, Tama-ku, Kawasaki, 214-8585, Japan

    Yasutaka Ogawa

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  1. Ki-Woong Kim
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  3. Yasutaka Ogawa
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Correspondence to Ki-Woong Kim.

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Kim, KW., Won, Y.L. & Ogawa, Y. Associations between Blood Levels of Polychlorinated Dibenzo-p-dioxins/Furans and Polychlorinated Biphenyls with Immune Systems. Toxicol. Environ. Health Sci. 10, 17–25 (2018). https://doi.org/10.1007/s13530-018-0342-8

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