NSU Research Contributions
Title : Arsenic Exposure and Cell-Mediated Immunity in Pre-School Children in Rural Bangladesh
Authors : Sultan Ahmed, Sophie E. Moore, Maria Kippler, Renee Gardner, M. D. H. Hawlader, Yukiko Wagatsuma, Rubhana Raqib, Marie Vahter
| Journal Article Title: Toxicological Sciences | Volume Number: 141 | Publication Year : 2014 | Issue Number: 1 |
| Index: scopus | Ranking: Q1 | Publisher Name: Oxford University Press | |
| Pages : 10 | |||
| Funding Source : None |
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Direct Sustainable Development Goals : SDG3 Good Health & Well-being |
Indirect Sustainable Development Goals : SDG2 Zero Hunger SDG6 Clean Water & Sanitation |
Sustainable Development Sub Goals : Reduce premature mortality from non-communicable diseases and promote mental health and well-being Achieve universal health coverage End hunger, ensure access to safe food Universal access to safe and affordable drinking water |
| Impact statement: This prospective cohort study of 577 children in rural Bangladesh provides the first human evidence that childhood arsenic exposure significantly reduces cell-mediated immunity. The research demonstrates that children with high concurrent arsenic levels are 37% more likely to lack a functional immune response to a PPD skin test, a deficit that is most severe among undernourished children and those with recent infections. Furthermore, the study identifies that arsenic specifically suppresses Th1 cytokines (IL-2 and TNF-?), which are vital for defending the body against pathogens. These findings serve as a critical alert for global health authorities, as persistent arsenic exposure through water and food creates a state of chronic immunosuppression that leaves children highly vulnerable to infectious diseases and long-term health complications. | Collaboration: Other | Keywords: Arsenic exposure; cell-mediated immunity; immunotoxicity; delayed type hypersensitivity |
