Recent changes in health are thought to involve the combined effects of lifestyle and environmental factors, including chemical exposure. Individuals differ in their sensitivity to the environmental factors. Life stages (perinatal, childhood, and elderly) and underlying diseases are important vulnerability factors. For these vulnerable populations, even low concentrations of chemicals can cause adverse health effects. Furthermore, endocrine disrupting chemicals may not be assessed for their toxicity with a simple dose-response relationship.
Immunotoxicity has attracted attention because chemicals such as bisphenol A (BPA) and per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances can disrupt immune system at low doses. This presentation will discuss the immunotoxicity assessment of chemicals considering vulnerability, focusing on the effects of bisphenols on allergic diseases.
BPA is used as a raw material for polycarbonate and epoxy resins in a variety of household products, including plastic products. In recent years, regulations on BPA have been tightened and thus the use of its substitutes has increased worldwide. However, there are also concerns about their health effects.
We have previously shown in animal models that exposure to low-dose BPA and its typical substitute, bisphenol S, during the juvenile period induces exacerbation of allergic asthma and modifications of immune cell function contributed to the pathogenesis. Our findings suggest that bisphenols may disrupt the immune system and exacerbate allergic reactions at the levels equivalent to human exposure.
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