News Chemistry

Air pollution molecules make key immune protein go haywire

Lowered defenses cause deadly infections, chronic asthma, mouse studies show

car traffic

BAD AIR  Reactive molecules in air pollution, including from car exhaust, may thwart immune responses in babies’ lungs. The immune response possibly explains how bad air spurs severe infections and chronic asthma.

Oran Viriyincy/Flickr (CC BY 2.0)

By Beth Mole

- More than 2 years ago

DENVER — With the flip of a cellular switch, reactive molecules in air pollution can turn immune responses in the lungs topsy-turvy.