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Updated: Oct 10, 2026
Long-term Behavioral and Reproductive Consequences of Embryonic Exposure to Low-dose Toxicants
Published on: March 6, 2018
Immunologic effects of background exposure to polychlorinated biphenyls and dioxins in Dutch preschool children
N Weisglas-Kuperus1, S Patandin, G A Berbers
1Department of Paediatrics, Division of Neonatology, Erasmus University and University Hospital/Sophia Children's Hospital, Rotterdam, The Netherlands. Weisglas@alkg.azr.nl
Insights
Prenatal exposure to polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) and dioxins may increase children's susceptibility to infections and alter immune responses. These effects persist into preschool age, impacting T-cell populations and antibody levels.
Area of Science:
- Environmental Health
- Immunology
- Pediatrics
Background:
- Prenatal exposure to polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) and dioxins has been linked to immune system changes in infants.
- Persistence of these effects into later childhood and association with disease prevalence requires further investigation.
Purpose of the Study:
- To determine if prenatal PCB and dioxin exposure effects on T-cell populations persist into preschool age.
- To investigate the association between background PCB and dioxin exposure and infectious/allergic diseases and humoral immunity in preschoolers.
Main Methods:
- Study included 207 mother-infant pairs; exposure assessed via maternal plasma, cord plasma, and milk (for dioxin toxic equivalent - TEQ).
- Current PCB body burden measured at 42 months; disease prevalence assessed by questionnaire; humoral immunity measured by antibody levels.
- Immunologic markers analyzed in a subgroup of 85 children.
Main Results:
- Prenatal PCB exposure linked to increased lymphocytes, T-cells (cytotoxic, memory, activated), and lower mumps/measles antibody levels.
- Prenatal PCB exposure associated with less wheezing; current PCB burden linked to more ear infections and chickenpox, fewer allergies.
- Higher dioxin TEQ associated with increased coughing, chest congestion, and phlegm.
Conclusions:
- Perinatal PCB and dioxin exposure effects persist into Dutch preschool children's childhood.
- Exposure may increase susceptibility to infectious diseases and potentially reduce allergy prevalence, possibly due to early-life infections.
Abstract:
Prenatal exposure to polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) and dioxins is associated with changes in the T-cell lymphocyte population in healthy Dutch infants. We investigated whether these changes persist into later childhood and whether background exposure to PCBs and dioxins is associated with the prevalence of infectious or allergic diseases and humoral immunity at preschool age. The total study group consisted of 207 healthy mother-infant pairs. We estimated prenatal exposure to PCBs and dioxins by the sum of PCBs 118, 138, 153, and 180 (sigmaPCB) in maternal and cord plasma and in breast-fed infants by the dioxin, planar, and mono-ortho PCB toxic equivalent (TEQ) levels in human milk. At 42 months of age, current body burden was estimated by the PCB in plasma. We assessed the prevalence of infectious and allergic diseases by parent questionnaire, and measured humoral immunity by antibody levels for mumps, measles, and rubella after primary vaccination. We performed immunologic marker analyses of lymphocytes in a subgroup of 85 children. Prenatal PCB exposure was associated with an increased number of lymphocytes, T-cells, and CD3CD8(+) (cytotoxic), CD4(+)CD45RO(+) (memory), T-cell receptor (TcR) [alpha]ss(+), and CD3(+)HLA-DR(+) (activated) T cells and lower antibody levels to mumps and measles at preschool age. Adjusted for confounders, prenatal PCB exposure was associated with less shortness of breath with wheeze, and current PCB body burden was associated with a higher prevalence of recurrent middle-ear infections and of chicken pox and a lower prevalence of allergic reactions. A higher dioxin TEQ was associated with a higher prevalence of coughing, chest congestion, and phlegm. We conclude that in Dutch preschool children the effects of perinatal background exposure to PCBs and dioxins persist into childhood and might be associated with a greater susceptibility to infectious diseases. Common infections acquired early in life may prevent the development of allergy, so PCB exposure might be associated with a lower prevalence of allergic diseases.
