Tehran University of Medical Sciences

Science Communicator Platform

Stay connected! Follow us on X network (Twitter):
Share this content! On (X network) By
Environmental Exposure to Endotoxin and Its Health Outcomes: A Systematic Review Publisher Pubmed



Shamsollahi HR1 ; Ghoochani M1 ; Jaafari J2 ; Moosavi A3 ; Sillanpaa M4 ; Alimohammadi M1, 5, 6
Authors
Show Affiliations
Authors Affiliations
  1. 1. Department of Environmental Health Engineering, School of Public Health, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
  2. 2. Department of Environmental Health Engineering, School of Health, Guilan University of Medical Sciences, Rasht, Iran
  3. 3. Department of Biochemistry, School of Medicine, Alborz University of Medical Sciences, Alborz, Iran
  4. 4. Laboratory of Green Chemistry, School of Engineering Science, Lappeenranta University of Technology, Sammonkatu 12, Mikkeli, Finland
  5. 5. Center for Water Quality Research (CWQI), Institute for Environmental Research (IER), Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
  6. 6. Health Equity Research Center (HERC), Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran

Source: Ecotoxicology and Environmental Safety Published:2019


Abstract

Exposure to endotoxin occurs environmentally and occupationally. There are several differences between them in terms of the variety and severity of health outcomes, possible exposed groups and type and route of exposure. Occupational exposures caused adverse health outcomes in almost all cases, but there is disparity in the incidence of significant health outcomes due to environmental exposure to endotoxin. This study has therefore endeavoured to investigate health outcomes from environmental exposure to endotoxin. A systematic review was conducted of three databases and non-occupational studies reporting the environmental concentration of endotoxin, and observed health outcomes in exposed groups were included in the review (n = 27). The studies showed that first exposure to endotoxin occurs in infancy by the inhalation route. Inhalation is the only exposure route that can induce inflammation as the main symptom of exposure to endotoxin. The studies included were conducted using four approaches: molecular immunology, measurement of lung volumes, clinical sensitisation test and diagnosis of asthmatic and respiratory symptoms such as wheezing. By the immunological approach, all the included studies reported that environmental exposure to endotoxin, especially at a younger age, has a protective effect on the incidence of asthma in adolescence. The main disparity observed was in studies using the approach of diagnosed asthma. Overall, however, they confirm the protective effect of exposure to endotoxin although, in the case of children with non-atopic asthma, the results could be different. © 2019 Elsevier Inc.