Michael Rosenthal

(6/2022) One of the things a beginning student hears about science is how intricately related one thing is to another, the basis of which is the Laws of Thermodynamics. Recent research has produced evidence that the dangers of COVID-19 increase with exposure to air pollution. There is no doubt that a person’s coronavirus risk is greater when one is older, overweight, or immunocompromised. Recent scientific studies have introduced a new factor in virus susceptibility: exposure to air pollution.

A recent study of young adults in Sweden had found that even brief exposure to polluted air increases the risk of COVID infection. The median age of this group was 25 years old.

We have been worrying up until now about the COVID-19 impact on older adults, but now we need to broaden that concern to include a wider age range.

It should be noted that the study in question was arrived upon a study of a group of younger adults so further research is necessary to determine whether this phenomenon occurs over a broad age range, and its early study indicates it need to be tested against later appearing variants.

A general condition of exposure to pollutants in the air is linked to inflammation and an imbalance in the human body known as oxidative stress. I can’t but help to think of my growing up in Youngstown, Ohio, and the air pollution due to the steel mills and related industry that formed the city’s backbone economy. We just took it for granted that it was the way things had to be. The decline of the American steel industry has had a disasterous effect on the Youngstown economy (Bruce Springsteen even has a song about it, entitled Youngstown!), but the air quality is greatly improved.

Though the understanding of this link is not yet complete, theories are emerging. The nature of science is that understanding of effects are not always (or even often) well understood early in the investigation. There are examples of refinements in understanding a scientific phenomenon that have taken many years of study and observation before an understanding is reached. Scientists keep an open mind for revision of explanations of observed phenomena. If you are thinking of a career in scientific research, you’ll never run out of things to study!

Concerns about COVID’s relationship to air pollution as a broader public health issue have existed since the earlier months of the pandemic. A Harvard University study analyzed data on the virus and found that the COVID-19 death rate was closely related to long-term exposure to fine particulate matter. It was also found that nitrogen dioxide , a common air pollutant we have written about earlier, significantly affected COVID death rates. If we had reduced long-term exposure to nitrogen dioxide by only ten percent, we would have avoided more than 14,000 deaths. Since COVID is relatively new, many studies need to be conducted that give us more information about secondary and environmental factors that could affect the virus’s ability to spread.

I can’t help but think of a story that I may have written about before, but is relevant here to scientific thinking and its limitations.

When I was young, I had two sisters of a nearby family who were my "babysitters" in Youngstown. I remember many things about them. One of them had a boyfriend over at times, allowed by my parents, and I learned at any early age by secret observation what boyfriends and girlfriends like to do together. No it wasn’t obscene!

When this couple married, my parents and I were invited to their wedding. It turned out to be one of those Youngstown air pollution days when the steel mill pollution was trapped in the sky, and the day turned dark. It was scary! Sadly the marriage failed, and the community consensus was that the reason was the strangeness of the day of the wedding. I remember being skeptical about that explanation even then. The seeds of the scientist had been planted in me! (The phenomenon was called a temperature inversion).

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I have written before about my confidence in the newsletter entitled Environmental Nutrition, a publication of the Health Information Network. I maintain my confidence and enjoyment in this publication, with always contains useful information on "Food, Nutrition, and Health". Its presentation is always such that you don’t need a graduate degree in science to understand it! And no, I do not receive a gratuity by recommending them! Once again I recommend subscribing. They can be found at P.O. Box 8544, Big Sandy, TX 75755-8544, or by phone at 800-829-5384.

The recent edition has a summary of the new Mayo Clinic Diet. This diet has been in existence for more than 70 years. It has constantly been listed as one of the best diets there is! The diet has choices that offer some variation, can be personalized to head toward weight loss and weight management. It recommends that that high calories treats be limited. It provides a framework rather than an item by item demand. It uses the phrases "Example of food to include" and "Examples of food to limit". Mayo Clinic also has a new cookbook entitled Cook Smart, Eat Well available from the Mayo Clinic Press. Since I don’t cook (I only microwave), I can’t offer first hand reaction, but I have great faith in the Mayo Clinic and its products.

Finally, let me say a few words about Vitamin D, a fat-soluble vitamin known for its role in bone development and maintenance. It also is known for reducing inflammation and modulating neuromuscular and immune function. Most of my information here comes from the Environmental Nutrition Newsletter. Its variation D3 comes naturally from sunlight and in a few foods while D2 comes from dietary supplements and foods such as milk, cereals, and orange juice. I take a Vitamin D supplement at my physicians’ recommendation. It is a relatively safe vitamin as long as you don’t overdo it and go beyond your physician’s amount recommendation. More is not always better in science! You cannot get toxicity from sun exposure (but you can get sunburn. I found that out living in Texas! but that’s another story!) Or from diet. The cause of toxicity is a buildup of calcium in the blood that can lead to nausea, vomiting, weakness, and bone pain and kidney problems. Since the possibility of interaction is always possible with medication or supplements you are already taking, I recommend consulting with your physician before adding a new supplement to your routine.

Finally, a word or two about truffles. Truffles are among the most prized delicacies in the culinary world. They can cost thousands of dollars per pound. Sadly, I have never eaten a truffle. I chose the wrong profession. They are the fruits of underground mushrooms. They have a strong and distinctive smell that has given rise to specially trained dogs and female truffle hogs (I didn’t make that up!) to locate and harvest them. If any of my readers wants to invite me for truffles and wine, I am open to it.

Read other articles by Michael Rosenthal