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[Acute-phase proteins in children from industrially polluted regions: influence of treatment]
Insights
Children exposed to industrial pollution showed airway inflammation and altered iron metabolism markers. Propolis treatment improved these health indicators, suggesting its therapeutic potential for pollution-related health issues.
Area of Science:
- Environmental Health
- Pediatrics
- Biochemistry
Background:
- Children from industrial areas like Legnica exhibit chronic upper airway inflammation.
- Elevated erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR) and whole-blood lead levels are common in this population.
- Significant differences in ferritin and transferrin serum levels were observed compared to healthy children.
Purpose of the Study:
- To assess the health status of children from a heavily polluted region.
- To investigate the impact of propolis treatment on inflammation and iron metabolism.
- To compare biochemical markers between children from polluted and healthy environments.
Main Methods:
- Observation and treatment of 440 children aged 8-10 years.
- Measurement of erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR) and whole-blood lead levels.
- Analysis of acute-phase proteins (A-PhP), including ferritin and transferrin, and serum protein electrophoresis.
Main Results:
- Children from Legnica showed signs of chronic inflammation and altered iron metabolism markers (ferritin, transferrin).
- Propolis treatment significantly modified ESR, serum protein fractions, and A-PhP involved in iron metabolism.
- No direct correlation was found between whole-blood lead levels and A-PhP levels or their post-treatment changes.
Conclusions:
- Children from industrial pollution zones exhibit inflammatory and metabolic disturbances.
- Propolis demonstrates a beneficial effect in mitigating these pollution-induced health issues.
- Further research is warranted to explore propolis's therapeutic role in environmental health contexts.
Abstract:
We present the results of observation and treatment of 440 children aged 8-10 years coming from a region of heavy industrial pollution around Legnica. The majority of children from the investigated group presented signs of chronic inflammation of the upper airways (at the beginning of their stay in Rabka the entire group had an average 16.6 +/- 15.7 mm/1h ESR-Erythrocyte sedimentation rate and their whole-blood lead level ranged from 5 to 15 micrograms%, averaging was 9.1 +/- 2.7 micrograms%). At the beginning of their stay in Rabka, acute-phase proteins levels of the Legnica children were compared to those of children from health-resort region of Rabka and were found to differ significantly in respect to ferritin (p < 0.001) and transferrin (p < 0.01) serum levels. Treatment with propolis significantly modified the climatic effects on ESR, on some electrophoretical fractions of serum proteins and on some A-PhP involved in iron metabolism. There was no individual correlation between the whole blood lead level and acute-phase proteins levels and the intensity of their changes after treatment.