Impact of ozone depletion on immune function

Conference · Tue Jun 01 04:00:00 EDT 1993 · World Resource Review; (United States)

OSTI ID:7011899

Jeevan, A; Kripke, M L ^[1]

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1. Univ. of Texas, Houston, TX (United States). Dept. of Immunology

Depletion of stratospheric ozone is expected to lead to an increase in the amount of UV-B radiation present in sunlight. In addition to its well known ability to cause skin cancer, UV-B radiation has been shown to alter the immune system. The immune system is the body's primary defense mechanism against infectious diseases and protects against the development of certain types of cancer. Any impairment of immune function may jeopardize health by increasing susceptibility to infectious diseases, increasing the severity of infections, or delaying recovery for infections. In addition, impaired immune function can increase the incidence of certain cancers, particularly cancers of the skin. Research carried out with laboratory animals over the past 15 years has demonstrated that exposure of the skin to UV-B radiation can suppress certain types of immune responses. These include rejection of UV-induced skin cancers and melanomas, contact allergy reactions to chemicals, delayed-type hypersensitivity responses to microbial and other antigens, and phagocytosis and elimination of certain bacteria from lymphoid tissues. Recent studies with mycobacterial infection of mice demonstrated that exposure to UV-B radiation decreased the delayed hypersensitivity response to mycobacterial antigens and increased the severity of infection. In humans, UV-B radiation has also been shown to impair the contact allergy response. These studies demonstrate that UV radiation can decrease immune responses in humans and laboratory and raise the possibility that increased exposure to UV-B radiation could adversely affect human health by increasing the incidence or severity of certain infectious diseases.

• OSTI ID: 7011899
• Report Number(s): CONF-930415--
• Conference Information: Journal Name: World Resource Review; (United States) Journal Volume: 5:2
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES
540120* -- Environment
Atmospheric-- Chemicals Monitoring & Transport-- (1990-)
560300 -- Chemicals Metabolism & Toxicology
63 RADIATION, THERMAL, AND OTHER ENVIRON. POLLUTANT EFFECTS ON LIVING ORGS. AND BIOL. MAT.
ANIMAL TISSUES
ANIMALS
BODY
ECOLOGICAL CONCENTRATION
ELECTROMAGNETIC RADIATION
HAZARDS
HEALTH HAZARDS
MAMMALS
MAN
OZONE
PRIMATES
RADIATIONS
RETICULOENDOTHELIAL SYSTEM
SENSITIVITY
TISSUES
ULTRAVIOLET RADIATION
VERTEBRATES