Everyday Pollutants as Detrimental as Smoke

[ScioAgapeOmnis]

_http://www.popsci.com/environment/article/2008-08/everyday-pollutants-detrimental-smoke

Think smoking is bad for you? Try just breathing. Louisiana scientists have discovered a group of previously undetected air pollutants that when inhaled exposes the average person to 300 times more free radicals than that of one cigarette in a day.

I'm not sure what free radicals are exactly, but this is an interesting finding. Just adding that to the pile of evidence that suggests that health problems blamed on smoking could easily be coming from many other factors.

 

[Nienna]

_http://www.popsci.com/environment/article/2008-08/everyday-pollutants-detrimental-smoke

Think smoking is bad for you? Try just breathing. Louisiana scientists have discovered a group of previously undetected air pollutants that when inhaled exposes the average person to 300 times more free radicals than that of one cigarette in a day.

I'm not sure what free radicals are exactly, but this is an interesting finding. Just adding that to the pile of evidence that suggests that health problems blamed on smoking could easily be coming from many other factors.

Good find! It just makes you wonder how many other things will finally come to light. There is a very good article written by Laura that covers this, too, for any who might not have read it.

 

[vinny]

I'm not sure what free radicals are exactly, but this is an interesting finding. Just adding that to the pile of evidence that suggests that health problems blamed on smoking could easily be coming from many other factors.

just fyi, free radicals are atoms with an un-balanced electron configuration, ie an electron is missing, creating a charge, and making the atom desperate to form a molecular bond in order to balance out the electron shell - so they are highly reactive and will form chemical reactions with just about anything.

this happens when a covalent bond (electrons 'shared' between atoms) is broken, for example in a H2 molecule, to form two H+ radicals, requires energy in to make the split, hence the unstable state afterwards.

well, I think that's right, anyway ;)