Provided by: www.ewg.org
Immunotoxic chemicals interfere with the complex chemical balance necessary for proper working of the body's immune system. Some chemicals like PCBs, dioxin, and organochlorine pesticides can interfere with the body's ability to create anti-bodies, leading to an AIDS-like syndrome where the body becomes vulnerable to even the smallest infection. Other chemicals, like formaldehyde and the pesticide malathion can hyper-stimulate the immune system, causing the body to create an systemic over-abundance of antibodies that can actually start attacking healthy cells.
Some chemicals can also cause local hyper-stimulation of the immune system when they come into contact with the skin or other organs, causing an allergic reaction to the chemicals. These include certain metallic salts and carbamate pesticides.
Overall the workings of the immune system are not well understood. There are no specific immunotoxicity tests required for pesticides or other compounds before they are allowed in the food supply.
For more information on immune system toxicity, check the following references:
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