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Environmental Influences on the Immune System pp 321–340Cite as

The Challenge of Predicting the Immunotoxic Potential of Chemicals

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Abstract

Well before the mechanisms were understood, pulmonary immune diseases had been associated with environmental chemicals, i.e., air contaminants. During the second half of the twentieth century, purpose and function of the different components of the immune system as well as their interactions with chemicals were extensively investigated and ultimately understood in more detail. In addition to a deeper understanding of immunological interactions and mechanisms, a series of accidents involving immunotoxic compounds pushed the development of immunotoxicological science in the last century.

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Acknowledgement

Thanks go to my esteemed colleague Fred Aswad for his assistance and thoroughly reviewing the manuscript. I like to thank Anna Fischer-Berenbein for providing the basis for two modified figures included here.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Heinrich-Heine-University, Düsseldorf, Germany

    Hans-Werner Vohr

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  1. Hans-Werner Vohr
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Correspondence to Hans-Werner Vohr .

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Editors and Affiliations

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

    Charlotte Esser

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Vohr, HW. (2016). The Challenge of Predicting the Immunotoxic Potential of Chemicals. In: Esser, C. (eds) Environmental Influences on the Immune System. Springer, Vienna. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-7091-1890-0_14

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