New research shows that maternal exposure to a
common and ubiquitous form of industrial pollution can harm the immune system
of offspring and that this injury is passed along to subsequent generations,
weakening the body’s defenses against infections such as the influenza virus. The
study was conducted at the University of Rochester Medical Center’s
Department of Environmental Medicine and appears in the Cell Press
journal. The
research was conducted in mice, whose immune system function is similar to
humans. “The old adage ‘you are what you eat’ is a touchstone for many aspects
of human health,” said Lawrence. “But in terms of the body’s ability to
fights off infections, this study suggests that, to a certain extent, you may
also be what your great-grandmother ate.”
Reported in EHN
Hi Chika,
ReplyDeleteImmunity is our fighting force against diseases and disorders, and as human health evolves from conception to birth, our environment contributes in significant way, positively or negatively impacting our health outcome. Urbanization and industrialization matter, not only to our health affects but also to climate change.