Evaluation of toxic assault on the immune system.

Abstract As a consequence of increased industrialization, human exposure to environmental toxins is growing daily. The effects of this exposure on the immune system is potentially a major health problem. Studies following human exposure have not unambiguously demonstrated a biologically significant weakening of the immune system, primarily because tests which show a high correlation with disease susceptibility have not been utilized. Such assessment of the immune system is particularly important in developing countries where regulation of environmental contamination may be less vigorous. At the same time, the ability to perform screening of large population in this setting is impaired. Measurement of the antibody response to an antigen used for routine immunizations provides a simple but very informative assessment and is particularly well suited as a minimalist approach to immune system assessment in developing countries.