Immune cell counts and risks of respiratory infections among infants exposed pre- and postnatally to organochlorine compounds: a prospective study.

Background: Early-life chemical exposure may influence immune system development, subsequently affecting child health. We investigated immunomodulatory potentials of polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) and p,p'-DDE in infants.

Methods: Prenatal exposure to PCBs and p,p'-DDE was estimated from maternal serum concentrations during pregnancy.

Levels of ochratoxin A in blood from Norwegian and Swedish blood donors and their possible correlation with food consumption.

Blood levels of ochratoxin A were determined in 406 Scandinavian blood donors (206 from Oslo, Norway, and 200 from Visby on the island of Gotland, Sweden), using an HPLC method. In connection with the blood collection, the subjects were asked to fill in a food questionnaire to obtain individual dietary information relevant to ochratoxin A exposure. The mean plasma level of ochratoxin A was 0.

Dietary intake of some important mycotoxins by the Swedish population.

To estimate the intake of some mycotoxins from food in Sweden, approximately 600 samples were collected and analysed for aflatoxins, ochratoxin A, patulin and trichothecenes. Intakes were calculated for average and high consumers among adults and children and compared with the tolerable daily intake (TDI) of the respective toxin. Mycotoxin levels in the food samples were generally below the European/national maximum limits.

Influence of aluminium on the immune system--an experimental study on volunteers.

The purpose of this study was to examine whether oral exposure to aluminum (Al) can affect the human immune system. Eighteen healthy volunteers (mean age 42, 28-57 yr) were divided into a test group (9 females, 4 males) and a referent group (3 females, 2 males). Over 6 weeks, the test subjects ingested 10 ml of antacid (aluminum hydroxide, 59 mg Al/ml) three times daily.