Neurological

Calderón-Garcidueñas L, Vojdani A,Blaurock-Busch E, Busch Y, Friedle A, Franco-Lira M, Sarathi-Mukherjee P, Martínez-Aguirre X, Park SB, Torres-Jardón R, D'Angiulli A.

Air pollution and children: neural and tight junction antibodies and combustion metals, the role of barrier breakdown and brain immunity in neurodegeneration.

This important Research, published in the reputable Journal of Alzheimer Disease 2015;43(3):1039-58 demonstrates that combustion metal exposure breaks down the body's natural barriers, including the blood brain barrier.

Abstract

Millions of children are exposed to concentrations of air pollutants, including fine particulate matter (PM2.5), above safety standards. In the Mexico City Metropolitan Area (MCMA) megacity, children show an early brain imbalance in oxidative stress, inflammation, innate and adaptive immune response-associated genes, and blood-brain barrier breakdown. We investigated serum and cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) antibodies to neural and tight junction proteins and environmental pollutants in 139 children ages 11.91 ± 4.2 y with high versus low air pollution exposures. We also measured metals in serum and CSF. MCMA children showed significantly higher serum actin IgG, occludin/zonulin 1 IgA, IgG, myelin oligodendrocyte glycoprotein IgG and IgM (p < 0.01), myelin basic protein IgA and IgG, S-100 IgG and IgM, and cerebellar IgG (p < 0.001). Serum IgG antibodies to formaldehyde, benzene, and bisphenol A, and concentrations of Ni and Cd were significantly higher in exposed children (p < 0.001). CSF MBP antibodies and nickel concentrations were higher in MCMA children (p = 0.03). Air pollution exposure damages epithelial and endothelial barriers and is a robust trigger of tight junction and neural antibodies. Cryptic 'self' tight junction antigens can trigger an autoimmune response potentially contributing to the neuroinflammatory and Alzheimer and Parkinson's pathology hallmarks present in megacity children. The major factor determining the impact of neural antibodies is the integrity of the blood-brain barrier. Defining the air pollution linkage of the brain/immune system interactions and damage to physical and immunological barriers with short and long term neural detrimental effects to children's brains ought to be of pressing importance for public health.

Do environmental pollutants cause neurological disorders?

The first comprehensive study of children's mental health by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) shows that mental illness is on the rise among children under 18. "Overall, 13 to 20% of children in the United States suffer from a mental disorder," according to the results of a CDC study published on May 16, 2013, in a supplement to the Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report.

Children from families with a low socioeconomic status who grow up in environmentally polluted regions are significantly more likely to be affected than those from families with a middle or high status who grow up in a more environmentally friendly environment.

A study by Prof. Amin of Egypt included 44 autistic individuals, aged 3-9 years, whose urine was analyzed before and after oral DMSA administration. The comparison of the measurement data revealed statistically significant differences between the urine sample taken before treatment and the DMSA challenge. The concentration of the metals cadmium, mercury, and lead was significantly higher in the challenge urine (i.e., after DMSA administration) (p = 0.006, p = 0.049, and p = 0.008, respectively).

Furthermore, the behavioral abnormalities typical of autism spectrum disorders were noticeably reduced after detoxification.