THE WAY TO DUSTY DEATH:

Skin Cells, Pollen Contribute to Air Pollution (Scientific American, 4/01/05)

When modeling climate, scientists must account for a large number of variables. One of the most challenging is the effect of small particulates suspended in the atmosphere, which can either reflect or absorb incoming radiation from the sun and thus alter its influence. The most common types of aerosols are soot, ash and other man-made particles as well as naturally derived dust and salt. Until now, plants and animals have been considered a small source of particulate pollution. But a new study suggests that up to 25 percent of aerosols worldwide could be coming from biological sources, including fur, skin, pollen and bacteria.

Ruprecht Jaenicke of the Institute of Atmospheric Physics in Mainz, Germany, gathered air samples from around the globe at different times of the year and analyzed their content. He found evidence of a variety of cellular and protein particles--from dandruff to algae, bacteria to viruses--injected directly into the air.

Well, the Europeans are doing their best to reduce the human problem.

Posted by Orrin Judd at April 1, 2005 10:03 AM