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Environmental nickel pollution: does it protect against nickel allergy?
Tone Smith-Sivertsen1, Valeri Tchachtchine, Eiliv Lund
1Department of Public Health and Primary Health Care, University of Bergen, Ulriksdal 8c, N-5009 Bergen, Norway. Tone.Smith-Sivertsen@isf.uib.no
Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology
|February 28, 2002
Summary
Nickel pollution from Russian refineries affects Norwegians more than Russians. Russian women showed lower nickel sensitization, suggesting long-term exposure may induce immunologic tolerance.
Area of Science:
- Environmental Health
- Immunology
- Toxicology
Background:
- The Norwegian-Russian border region faces environmental pollution due to emissions from Russian nickel refineries.
- Nickel exposure is a known cause of allergic contact dermatitis.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate nickel sensitization prevalence in populations residing in a polluted border area.
- To compare nickel allergy rates between Norwegian and Russian populations exposed to differing levels of nickel pollution.
Main Methods:
- Patch testing was conducted on the general adult population on both sides of the Norwegian-Russian border.
- Prevalence of nickel sensitization was assessed and compared between the two groups.
Main Results:
- Nickel sensitization was significantly lower in Russian women (7.2%) compared to Norwegian women (27.5%).
- This disparity suggests a potential difference in immune response to nickel between the populations.
Conclusions:
- Long-term exposure to nickel pollution in the Russian population may have led to the development of immunologic tolerance.
- Environmental nickel exposure levels may influence the prevalence and manifestation of nickel allergy.