Marissa Conway
Period 4
Early immune system exposure linked to chronic disease
http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2009/01/090119091814.htm
Jan. 21, 2009
5 key points
1. Developmental immunotoxicology (DIT) focuses on the effects of exposure to biological
materials, drugs, medical devices, chemicals, and other environmental factors on the
developing immune system in fetuses, infants and children.
2. Those factors are linked to an increased risk of asthma, autism, diabetes, leukemia, and
other important diseases.
3. There is an increase in awareness of pre-adult immune dysfunction and its
consequences on life-long chronic disease.
4. A well functioning immune system can increase life expectancy and reduces the risk of
chronic illness.
5. The identification of these hazards will provide opportunities to keep the immune
system healthy.
The most important key facts are: developmental immunotoxicology or (DIT) focuses on the
effects of exposure to biological materials, drugs, medical devices, chemicals, and other
environmental factors on the developing immune system in fetuses, infants and children, and
that there is an increase in awareness of pre-adult immune dysfunction and its consequences
on life-long chronic disease, and the identification of these hazards will provide opportunities to
keep the immune system healthy. These are all important key facts because children are being
exposed to things that will affect their immune system growth which could decrease their life
expectancy, and increase their risk of asthma, autism, diabetes, leukemia and other chronic
illnesses.
I would rate this article a 7 because it was written by the scientist, Robert Dietert. It was
organized, and included facts, risks, and opportunities for change. It could have been longer,
but other than that it was factual and creditable.