Immunotoxicological effects of environmental exposure in Nigeria: diagnostic challenges and Medical laboratory science contributions to disease surveillance

Abstract

This study investigates the immunotoxicological effects of environmental exposures in Nigeria and proposes a lab-based sentinel surveillance framework to enhance disease detection and public health response. Environmental toxicants, including heavy metals and pesticides, have been linked to impaired immune function, increasing susceptibility to infections and other diseases. Malnutrition further exacerbates these effects, highlighting the need for integrated surveillance systems. Medical laboratories, despite their critical role, face challenges such as lack of accreditation and inadequate infrastructure. This study aims to identify key biomarkers of immune function affected by environmental exposures, assess the diagnostic performance of laboratory tests in immunosuppressed individuals, and propose a framework for integrating laboratory data with environmental monitoring to inform public health interventions.