Skip to main content
Springer Nature Link
Log in

Environmental Influences on the Immune System

  • Book
  • © 2016

Overview

Editors:
  1. Charlotte Esser

    1. University of Düsseldorf, IUF–Leibniz Res Inst for Env Med, Düsseldorf, Germany

    View editor publications

    You can also search for this editor in PubMed   Google Scholar

  • A comprehensive work on the effect of the environment on the immune system
  • Unique book in this field on the market
  • Gives a basic overview of research models, mechanism and structures as well as a thorough insight into professional immunology

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this book

Log in via an institution
eBook USD 129.00
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as EPUB and PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever

Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout

Other ways to access

Licence this eBook for your library

Institutional subscriptions

About this book

This book brings together articles on the overarching theme of how the environment shapes the immune system.

The immune system is commonly assumed to respond to harmful pathogens such as bacteria and viruses. However, harmless bacteria, chemicals, stress, normal food and other factors can also trigger, shape or interfere with the immune system, often producing adverse effects. Yet, it is also becoming increasingly accepted that some of these interactions are physiological and necessary for a healthy immune system.

Examples of negative effects include the immunosuppressive effects of UV irradiation, or the immunotoxic effects of man-made chemicals such as polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons. Autoimmunity or allergies can be the adverse consequences of interaction between the immune system and chemical compounds such as drugs. Positive effects can come from natural exposure levels to bacteria, healthy life-style or the diet.

There is a great need to understand how communication between the environment and the immune system works. This book addresses this need. It covers environmental factors (such as bacteria, sun exposure), human factors (such as age, exercise or stress), and important man-made factors (such as air pollution). A chapter on human rights complements the scientific chapters. The book is intended for immunologists, toxicologists and researchers who want to know how the immune system works and is triggered, as well as for medical doctors in environmental medicine and the general public interested in immunology.

Similar content being viewed by others

Keywords

Table of contents (15 chapters)

  1. Front Matter

    Pages i-xix
    Download chapter PDF

  2. Principles of the Immune System: Players and Organization

    • Charlotte Esser
    Pages 1-17

  3. Age and Lifestyle

    1. Front Matter

      Pages 19-19
      Download chapter PDF

    2. Influence of Early-Life Environmental Exposures on Immune Function Across the Life Span

      • Lisbeth A. Boule, B. Paige Lawrence
      Pages 21-54

    3. Environmental Influences on the Immune System: The Aging Immune System

      • Julia N. Mälzer, Axel R. Schulz, Andreas Thiel
      Pages 55-76

    4. The Hygiene Hypothesis

      • Caroline Roduit, Remo Frei, Erika von Mutius, Roger Lauener
      Pages 77-96

    5. Stress and the Immune System

      • Rebecca G. Reed, Charles L. Raison
      Pages 97-126

    6. Exercise and the Immune System

      • Elisa Couto Gomes, Geraint Florida-James
      Pages 127-152

  4. Chemicals and Pollutants

    1. Front Matter

      Pages 153-153
      Download chapter PDF

    2. Mechanisms by Which UV Radiation, a Natural Component of Sunlight, Suppresses the Immune Response

      • Stephen E. Ullrich
      Pages 155-179

    3. Vaccination Efficacy and Environmental Pollution

      • Katrine Kielsen, Zaiba Shamim, Lars P. Ryder, Philippe Grandjean, Carsten Heilmann
      Pages 181-203

    4. Engineered Nanoparticles and the Immune System: Interaction and Consequences

      • Paola Italiani, Diana Boraschi
      Pages 205-226

    5. Air Pollution and Allergy in Germany: Surprising Results of Data Obtained After Reunification

      • Ursula Krämer
      Pages 227-241

    6. Air Pollution, Subclinical Inflammation and the Risk of Type 2 Diabetes

      • Tom Teichert, Christian Herder
      Pages 243-271

    7. Immunotoxic Effects of Mercury

      • Renee M. Gardner, Jennifer F. Nyland
      Pages 273-302

  5. Challenges

    1. Front Matter

      Pages 303-303
      Download chapter PDF

    2. Environment and Autoimmunity: Facts and Gaps

      • Angela Ceribelli, Elena Generali, Carlo Selmi
      Pages 305-320

    3. The Challenge of Predicting the Immunotoxic Potential of Chemicals

      • Hans-Werner Vohr
      Pages 321-340

    4. Environmental Pollution: A Human Rights Perspective

      • Dinah Shelton
      Pages 341-369

  6. Back Matter

    Pages 371-378
    Download chapter PDF
Back to top

Reviews

     

Editors and Affiliations

  • University of Düsseldorf, IUF–Leibniz Res Inst for Env Med, Düsseldorf, Germany

    Charlotte Esser

About the editor

Charlotte Esser is Professor of Immunology and group leader at the Leibniz Research Institute for Environmental Medicine (IUF) in Düsseldorf, Germany. Her Research focuses on the adverse or beneficial consequences that low molecular weight substances (such as environmental toxins or dietary supplements) have on function and differentiation of the immune system in mice and men. A main focus lies on the analysis of the arylhydrocarbon receptor.  

Bibliographic Information

  • Book Title: Environmental Influences on the Immune System

  • Editors: Charlotte Esser

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-7091-1890-0

  • Publisher: Springer Vienna

  • eBook Packages: Biomedical and Life Sciences, Biomedical and Life Sciences (R0)

  • Copyright Information: Springer-Verlag Wien 2016

  • Hardcover ISBN: 978-3-7091-1888-7Published: 25 February 2016

  • Softcover ISBN: 978-3-7091-4883-9Published: 14 March 2019

  • eBook ISBN: 978-3-7091-1890-0Published: 04 February 2016

  • Edition Number: 1

  • Number of Pages: XIX, 378

  • Number of Illustrations: 17 b/w illustrations, 7 illustrations in colour

  • Topics: Immunology, Pharmacology/Toxicology, Human Physiology

Publish with us

Policies and ethics

Back to top