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Exposure to chemicals may affect response to vaccines
Elevated exposure to perfluorinated compounds (PFCs) appears to reduce the effectiveness of vaccines given to children. An American study once again points the finger at these chemical products, already responsible for cases of infertility in women and premature menopause. The metabolic disturbances they cause are therefore not limited to the endocrine system only.
This information is important because perfluorinated compounds form part of our everyday life. They are found in the coating of non-stick frying pans, in the packaging of certain food products, in some cosmetics and in textiles, etc. They also remain in the environment for a long time, mainly in water, which means that they can then enter the food chain.
The researchers studied a group of 656 children living in the Faroe Islands, monitoring them from birth to the age of 7. This population choice was no accident. The people who live on these islands, situated between the Norwegian Sea and the Arctic, consume a lot of seafood.
After vaccinating the children against diphtheria and tetanus, the researchers measured their antibody levels. The results show that a prenatal exposure two times higher than the average led to a 39% reduction in the level of diphtheria antibodies at the age of 5. Where, after birth, exposure was still double the average, the researchers found that the antibody level at age 7 was also reduced : by 36% in the case of tetanus cover and by 25% in the case of protection against diphtheria.
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