Evidence for formaldehyde antibodies and altered cellular immunity in subjects exposed to formaldehyde in mobile homes

Journal Article · Sun Nov 01 04:00:00 EST 1987 · Arch. Environ. Health; (United States)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1080/00039896.1987.9934357· OSTI ID:5230836

Thrasher, J D; Wojdani, A; Cheung, G; Heuser, G

Eight symptomatic individuals chronically exposed to indoor formaldehyde (HCHO) at low concentrations (0.07-0.55 ppm) were compared to 8 nonexposed subjects with respect to: (1) presence of IgG and IgE antibodies to HCHO conjugated to human serum albumin (F-HSA); (2) the percentage of venous blood T and B cells by E and EAC-rosetting; and (3) the ability of T and B cells to undergo mitogen (PHA, PWM) stimulated blastogenesis as measured by the incorporation of tritiated thymidine. Anti-F-HSA IgG, but no IgE, antibodies were detected in the sera of the 8 exposed subjects; none were found in 7 of the unexposed controls. T lymphocytes were decreased in the exposed (48 +/- 11.5%) compared to the control (65.9 +/- 4.97%) subjects (p greater than .001 less than .01). B cells were 12.6 +/- 1.6% (HCHO group) and 14.75 +/- 2.1% (controls) (p greater than .02 less than .05). The incorporation of labeled thymidine by T cells (PHA) was decreased: 17,882 +/- 2293 cpm (HCHO group) and 28,576 +/- 3807 cpm (p greater than .001 less than .01). T and B cell blastogenesis (PWM) was 9698 +/- 1441 cpm (HCHO group) and 11,279 +/- 1711 (controls) (p greater than .05 less than .1). Exposure to HCHO appears to stimulate IgG antibodies to F-HSA and decrease the proportion of peripheral T cells.

• Research Organization: Thrasher and Associates, Northridge, CA (USA)
• OSTI ID: 5230836
• Journal Information: Arch. Environ. Health; (United States), Journal Name: Arch. Environ. Health; (United States) Vol. 42:6; ISSN AEHLA
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

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59 BASIC BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES
63 RADIATION, THERMAL, AND OTHER ENVIRON. POLLUTANT EFFECTS ON LIVING ORGS. AND BIOL. MAT.
AIR POLLUTION
ALDEHYDES
ANIMAL CELLS
ANTIBODIES
AZINES
BIOLOGICAL EFFECTS
BIOLOGICAL MATERIALS
BLOOD
BLOOD CELLS
BODY FLUIDS
BUILDINGS
CELL PROLIFERATION
CHRONIC EXPOSURE
CONNECTIVE TISSUE CELLS
ENZYME IMMUNOASSAY
FORMALDEHYDE
GLOBULINS
HETEROCYCLIC COMPOUNDS
IMMUNITY
IMMUNOASSAY
IMMUNOGLOBULINS
INDOOR AIR POLLUTION
ISOTOPE APPLICATIONS
LABELLED COMPOUNDS
LEUKOCYTES
LYMPHOCYTES
MATERIALS
MOBILE HOMES
NUCLEOSIDES
NUCLEOTIDES
ORGANIC COMPOUNDS
ORGANIC NITROGEN COMPOUNDS
POLLUTION
PROTEINS
PYRIMIDINES
RESIDENTIAL BUILDINGS
RIBOSIDES
SOMATIC CELLS
THYMIDINE
TRACER TECHNIQUES
TRITIUM COMPOUNDS