Posted on 05/20/2009 4:53:06 PM PDT by grey_whiskers
MBL, WOODS HOLE, MA-The ability to mount an immune response to influenza A (H1N1) infection is significantly compromised by a low level of arsenic exposure that commonly occurs through drinking contaminated well water, scientists at the Marine Biological Laboratory (MBL) and Dartmouth Medical School have found.
Joshua Hamilton, the MBL's Chief Academic and Scientific Officer and a senior scientist in the MBL's Bay Paul Center; graduate student Courtney Kozul of Dartmouth Medical School, where the work was conducted; and their colleagues report their findings this week in the journal Environmental Health Perspectives.
"When a normal person or mouse is infected with the flu, they immediately develop an immune response," says Hamilton, in which immune cells rush to the lungs and produce chemicals that help fight the infection. However, in mice that had ingested 100 ppb (parts per billion) arsenic in their drinking water for five weeks, the immune response to H1N1 infection was initially feeble, and when a response finally did kick in days later, it was "too robust and too late," Hamilton says. "There was a massive infiltration of immune cells to the lungs and a massive inflammatory response, which led to bleeding and damage in the lung." Morbidity over the course of the infection was significantly higher for the arsenic-exposed animals than the normal animals.
(Excerpt) Read more at eurekalert.org ...
Cheers!
Cheers!
Then there’s the Vice Principal at that school in NYC. What was he drinking and when did he drink it?
Amusing - the Bush-bashers are reaching back to the miniscule difference between President Clinton’s take effect after he left office arsenic standard and the more reasonable older standard restored by President Bush.
But I wouldn't be surprised if this *reminded* some people...
Cheers!
thanks, bfl
ping... (Thanks, grey_whiskers, the gent you seek is on the list!)
This has any number of implications. Drinking water is just one source of Arsenic, but usually not of great concern to most people.
http://water.usgs.gov/nawqa/trace/pubs/geo_v46n11/fig2.html
However, arsenic compounds are found all over the place.
“Lead hydrogen arsenate was used well into the 20th century as an insecticide on fruit trees. Its use sometimes resulted in brain damage to those working the sprayers. In the last half century, monosodium methyl arsenate (MSMA) and disodium methyl arsenate (DSMA), a less toxic organic form of arsenic, has replaced lead arsenate’s role in agriculture.”
“Used in animal feed, particularly in the US as a method of disease prevention and growth stimulation. One example is roxarsone which was used by 69.8 and 73.9% of the broiler starter and growers between 1995 to 2000.”
“Chromated copper arsenate has long been used as a wood preservative against termites, fungus and bacteria. It gives a distinctive green color when the liquid is painted on wood. However, it is no longer legal for use in consumer wood products.”
A simple system is now in use in third world countries with high levels of arsenic and other heavy metals in their drinking water. First the water has two tablets added to it, whose ingredients bind with the metals, then the water is put through a sand filter that traps the metals. It uses no electricity and only costs $2/yr.
Smoke gets in your eyes from reading this. Do a web search on flu & vitamin D.
Get your vitamin D stocked up for the fall!!!
when a response finally did kick in days later, it was "too robust and too late," Hamilton says. "There was a massive infiltration of immune cells to the lungs and a massive inflammatory response, which led to bleeding and damage in the lung."
A nice description of the cytokine storm.
Meant to add that a chronic condition of mine seems to have considerably improved (unexpectedly) since I started the vitamin D regimen, to the point that I have been able to discontinue a medication (for the time being). I have not been able to find any references linking D to a therapy for this, but that’s all I can think of that changed! Many people evidently have a vitamin D deficiency. Soaking up the sun also.
Since arsenic reportedly does not accumulate within the body, presumably a small load won't directly kill you: but it sounds like varying concentrations change from enhancing the immune response to suppressing it: which argues that it interacts with several different biofeedback loops.
Good thing I have a water purification system in place at home...
Next question -- if you don't mind a personal inquiry.
Your screen name, what's it from?
Cheers!
If word comes out to shelter in place within 48 hours, I will make one last shopping trip; include LOTS of vitamin D, and go up to 5000 IU / day for each of us.
Cheers!
Arsenic I was told was in the Flu Vaccine!?
Cheers!
This could have tremendous import in South Asia, where there is a serious problem with arsenic in wells.
Sorry, link didn’t work: http://www.dep.state.fl.us/waste/quick_topics/publications/wc/cattlevats.pdf
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