Decreased vaccine antibody titers following exposure to multiple metals and metalloids in e-waste-exposed preschool children

• Published in: Environmental pollution (1987) 2017-01, Vol.220 (Pt A), p.354-363
• Main Authors: Lin, Xinjiang, Xu, Xijin, Zeng, Xiang, Xu, Long, Zeng, Zhijun, Huo, Xia
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Arsenic - blood; Arsenic - toxicity; Cadmium - blood; Cadmium - toxicity; Child; Child, Preschool; China; Chromium - blood; Chromium - toxicity; Copper - blood; Copper - toxicity; Electronic waste; Environmental Exposure - analysis; Female; Hepatitis B virus; Humans; Immunogenicity, Vaccine - drug effects; Male; Manganese - blood; Manganese - toxicity; Mercury - blood; Mercury - toxicity; Metalloids; Metalloids - blood; Metalloids - toxicity; Metals; Metals, Heavy - blood; Metals, Heavy - toxicity; Nickel - blood; Nickel - toxicity; Preschool children; Recycling; Selenium - blood; Selenium - toxicity; Vaccine antibodies; Viral Vaccines - immunology; Zinc - blood; Zinc - toxicity
• ISSN: 0269-7491; 1873-6424
• DOI: 10.1016/j.envpol.2016.09.071

We explored acquired immunity resulting from vaccination in 3 to 7-year-old children, chronically exposed to multiple heavy metals and metalloids, in an e-waste recycling area (Guiyu, China). Child blood levels of ten heavy metals and metalloids, including lead (Pb), arsenic (As), mercury (Hg), chromium (Cr), cadmium (Cd), manganese (Mn), nickel (Ni), copper (Cu), zinc (Zn) and selenium (Se), and seven vaccine antibodies (diphtheria, pertussis, tetanus, hepatitis B, Japanese encephalitis, polio, measles) were measured. The exposed group had higher levels of blood Pb, Mn, Cu, Zn and Cr compared to the reference group (P 15 μg/L), and high blood Cd and Ni (upper median value of each group). Results suggest multiple heavy metal and metalloid exposure, especially to Pb, Zn and Cu, may be a risk factor inhibiting the development of child immunity, resulting in decreased child antibody levels against vaccines. [Display omitted] •We examined the associations of multiple heavy metals and metalloids with seven vaccine antibodies.•Higher levels of blood Pb, Mn, Cu, Zn and Cr were found in children from the e-waste- polluted area.•All vaccine antibodies Levels except hepatitis B were significantly reduced in the exposed area.•High blood Pb, Cu and Zn were observed to be inversely associated with seven antibody titers.•Multiple heavy metal and metalloid exposure may inhibit child antibody levels against vaccines. Multiple heavy metals and metalloid exposure may be one of the risk factors inhibiting the development of child immunity, resulting in decreased child antibody levels against vaccines in e-waste-exposed children.