Immunity Health News

Scientists have long known that immune responses differ between men and women, which is why they tend to use male animals in their research (in case female hormones complicate the study data).

But new research has shown in mice exposed to ozone a greater susceptibility to infection among females than males.

“If we could extrapolate what we found to the human population, it would mean women with lung infections may be at higher risk for negative outcomes if they are exposed to high amounts of air pollution, and in particular, ozone,” said Joanna Floros, Ph.D., Penn State College of Medicine professor of cellular and molecular physiology, pediatrics and obstetrics and gynecology, and the lead investigator on the study.

Read the whole article.

I recently came across a blog post praising the merits of ionic air purifiers. Interestingly, the blog is under review by Blogger.com for “possible Blogger Terms of Service violations and is open to authors only”.

Look instead at this article about Consumer Reports’ study of indoor air cleaners.

The short word on the subject: ionizing air filters charge particles to make them stick to walls so you don’t breathe them in. This means dirty walls and an opportunity for those particles to be reintroduced into the air when you walk by. The also generate ozone, which is nice for the planet at 40,000 feet, but a lung irritant in your living room. And since 80% of air purifier buyers are asthmatic…

In contrast, a combination of HEPA and carbon filters is recommended by achooallergy.com, a company which promotes itself as a “allergy, asthma, and sinus relief products retailer”.

Can you trust their review? I don’t know. Hard to find articles on these things not written by the companies selling them.