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Effect of the air ion environment on influenza in the mouse

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Abstract

The effects of small air ions were observed on the course of influenza in specific pathogen-free mice challenged by intranasal instillation of measured doses of influenza virus and maintained in a controlled micro-environment. Unipolar low densities of positive or negative ions increased the death rate, while mid-range densities of either charge were without effect. High concentrations of negative ions or low concentrations of mixed ions with negative ions predominating reduced the death rate. Ion depleted air, a common product of urban living conditions, significantly increased the mortality rate.

Zusammenfassung

Die Wirkung kleiner Luftionen auf den Verlauf der Influenza wurde in SPF Mäusen nach intranasaler Application von bekannten Mengen Influenzavirus unter kontrollierten Umweltbedingungen untersucht. Unipolare niedrige Konzentrationen positiver und negativer Ionen erhöhten die Mortalität, während mittlere Konzentration Ionen beider Ladungen ohne Wirkung blieben. Hohe Konzentrationen negativer Ionen oder niedrige Konzentrationen gemischter Ionen mit überwiegend negativen Ionen senkten die Mortalität. Luft ohne Ionen, wie unter städtischen Lebensbedingungen, steigerten die Mortalität signifikant.

Resume

On a suivi l'effet de petits ions de l'air sur le développement de la grippe chez des souris libres d'agents pathogènes, infectées par instillation intransale au moyen de doses connues de virus et ensuite maintenues en atmosphère contrôllée. De faibles concentrations unipolaires d'ions positifs ou négatifs augmentent le taux de mortalité, alors que des concentrations moyennes de chacune des charges sont sans effet. Par contre, de fortes concentrations d'ions négatifs diminuent le taux de mortalité. Une atmosphère privée d'ions, telle qu'on en rencontre dans les villes, augmente le taux de mortalité de façon significative.

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  1. Medical Microbiology and Immunology Division and Naval Biomedical Research Laboratory, School of Public Health, University of California, 94720, Berkeley, California, USA

    A. P. Krueger

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  1. A. P. Krueger
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  2. E. J. Reed
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Krueger, A.P., Reed, E.J. Effect of the air ion environment on influenza in the mouse. Int J Biometeorol 16, 209–232 (1972). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01553734

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