Environmental Exposure to Heavy Metals, Nanoparticles, and Emergent Contaminants and Risk of Allergic Diseases

Heavy metals [nickel (Ni), cobalt (Co), chromium (Cr), palladium, molybdenum, aluminium, and copper] are environmental contaminants able to impact on host cells of humans and various organisms, potentially causing serious damage. These metals can be present also in form of nanoparticles.

Nanoparticles are tiny particles between 1 and 100 nanometres in size. Nanoparticles have applications in a wide range of fields, including medicine, electronics, energy, and environmental remediation. However, the potential environmental and health risks associated with nanoparticles are also focus of global research.

The research on metal allergies in exposed subjects is challenging since the exposures are common both at the workplace and outside.

Environmental exposures are important for development of allergic contact dermatitis (ACD).

ACD is a common skin disorder caused by contact with an exogenous substance that elicits a hypersensitivity response in susceptible individuals.

Among workers exposed to such irritants and allergens at work, ACD is a common occupational health problem with a significant incidence. According to the most recent scientific studies, the overall prevalence of ACD between 1996 and 2019 is estimated at 10.5 per cent.

In some individuals, the ingestion of Ni-rich foods causes systemic skin disorders (urticaria/angioedema, erythema, eczema) and extracutaneous multi-organ symptoms (heartburn, meteorism, abdominal pain, alvo, oral aphthosis, headache, respiratory disorders, recurrent infections, fibromyalgia), expressed singularly or in variable association in some particularly sensitive subjects. This clinical picture is known as Systemic Nickel Allergy Syndrome (SNAS), which occurs in approximately 20% of ACD individuals.

Researchers will collect environmental, bio-humoral, and clinical data derived from patients with ACD and systemic metal allergic syndromes related to the exposure to heavy metals, nanoparticles, and emergent contaminants, and compare with ones obtained from healthy subjects to identify susceptibility / risk factors for these diseases.

Patients with systemic allergic syndrome (1st study group) and patients with ACD (2nd study group) will undergo the measurement of exposure to heavy metals and nanoparticles including Ni, Co, Cr, palladium, molybdenum, aluminium, and copper. Furthermore, putative effect biomarkers (patch test to metals, within-breath analysis of oscillometry parameters, and serum zonulin, related to cutaneous, respiratory, and gastro-intestinal exposure, respectively, and serum levels of protein oxidation products, as markers of systemic oxidative stress) and exposure biomarkers (serum and urinary metal concentrations) will be researched in both groups. The same investigation will be conducted on healthy subjects (3rd study group).

Inclusion criteria

• adult subjects (over 18 years of age).
• Subjects suffering from allergic contact dermatitis due to metals.
• Subjects with systemic allergic syndrome due to metals.
• Adult healthy subjects.
• Subjects able to give written informed consent.

Exclusion criteria

• Subjects under the age of 18years.
• Pregnant/breastfeeding women.
• Subjects suffering from chronic renal failure requiring replacement treatment.
• Subjects suffering from other systemic pathologies related to exposure to metals.
• Subjects suffering from gastrointestinal diseases such as celiac disease, chronic inflammatory intestinal diseases, tumors, other skin diseases.
• Subjects unable to express written informed consent.