Placental Uptake of Environmental Chemicals and Children Allergy : Relationships Between Environmental Chemicals Transferred Through the Placenta and Allergy Outcomes in Childhood Years

Placental contamination with environmental chemicals has impact on intrauterine fetal development and postnatal health status of children. Many foreign substances reach the developing fetus through placental transfer. Accumulation of such chemicals results in deterioration of immunological profile of the placenta which may cause allergy. Several interventions have been made to prevent allergic outcomes in children. For example, research reveals that certain interventions in children (single or multifaceted) are associated with a sustained improvement in asthma control. Although such studies claim sustainability of allergen interventions for children, clinical trials of allergen avoidance tend to be small and the findings inconsistent. Thus, there is need for further research that can yield consistent results. This book seeks to investigate relationships between environmental chemicals transferred through the placenta and allergy outcomes in childhood years. The book is of interest to statisticians, researchers and policy makers in the health sector with an interest in coming up with sustainable allergen interventions among children.