[reverett123]

Today's Science Daily

Studying the hearts of young accident victims, a connection was found between the pollution levels of the part of Mexico City that they had lived in and the inflammatory conditions within their hearts. In particular, the exposure to tiny particulates was directly reflected in levels of things like TNF-a, one of the bad boys of inflammation. These particulates come from things like diesel exhaust and are so incredibly small (2 to 3 microns) that they slip past our barriers.

These tiny bits have the ability to latch on to the toxic remains of dead bacteria (endotoxins or LPS) and carry them past these barriers too. It is the LPS that then triggers inflammation in places like the heart. The lungs. The brain?

Maybe so. One of the requirements of a hypothesis on the cause of PD is that it should explain why the olfactory bulb and the stomach wall are the first places that show signs of PD. Breathing and swallowing these particles could fill the bill.

Another requirement is to explain why PD seemed to "take off" after the Industrial Revolution and why it was first noticed in London. The shift to burning coal could do that.

Along the same lines, the US burns far more coal than India and has far more PD. And the two ancient cultures that really did seem to have recognized PD (Indus and China) both had advanced metal technologies. Smelting requires more heat than wood can provide.

We already know that early life exposure to LPS can sensitize us to further exposure. Like we get when that bus pulls away from the curb?

[mrsD]

I read an article on this last year, in Science News.

Nano invisible particles, leading to health issues. That study said they found hypertension, caused by invisible tiny particles from exhaust. Pretty disturbing.

[vlhperry]

Could explain the cause of my early diagnosis. My father used to hold a bag of Propane gas (used for welding) over my head to knock me out so he could abuse me. Talk about stress. I have always suspected this to be my cause of PD.

[reverett123]

Depending on where they travel, they could cause many different diseases. Asthma. Arthritis. Cancer.

They are small enough to use axonal transport to move deep into the brain, too. Just as Braak predicted.

I wonder if they can ferry a virus? Or open the BBB for one? Influenza?

I bet that the longer that they are in contact with the GI tract, the greater the odds they will cross the barrier. Constipation.

Originally Posted by mrsD

I read an article on this last year, in Science News.

Nano invisible particles, leading to health issues. That study said they found hypertension, caused by invisible tiny particles from exhaust. Pretty disturbing.

[vlhperry]

I believe if you inhale a gas it bypasses the BBB. Can't remember where I read it.