Immunologic and other biological parameters as a function of smoking status and of residence in areas differing in terms of air pollution.

In the industrial region of La Louviere (Belgium), healthy persons, presenting at a consultation of preventive medicine, showed differences as a function of smoking and of residence in one of four areas differing in sources of emissions, population density and green zones. Smokers had significantly (P⩽0.05) more leukocytes μl−1, neutrophils μl−1, CD3+ lymphocytes (lys) μl−1, CD4+ lys μl−1, CD25+ lys μl−1, higher CD4/CD8 ratio's and higher carcino-embryonic antigen serum levels but significantly lower IgG immunoglobulin and serum carotene levels than non-smokers. Compared to persons living in the 'Peripheral area', and after correction for sex, smoking status and age, persons living in the more polluted areas showed significantly more CD3+CD56+ lys μl−1. Although about the same mean value for the CD4/CD8 ratio was found for the more polluted areas, a higher percentage of their residents showed a ratio that was either <1 or ⩾2.25, significantly so for the Power Station-Landfill area. A non-significant but ...