Byte-Sized Research: Lung Microbes

On October 21st, Maltz, Topacio, et al. published an article on the response of lung microbes to inhaling dust. Scientists found that lung microbial composition varied by the amount of dust exposure.

As climate change worsens and bodies of water dry out, greater sediment exposure leads to more frequent dust storms. This waterline recession and dust events insoluble minerals, microbial spores, and organic compounds. This may present health risks to local citizens.

Researchers examined the response of the lungs of mice exposed to dust collected from near California's Salton Sea and the lungs of mice exposed to filtered air. They found that the dust elicited neutrophilic inflammation (inflammation caused by accumulation of white blood cells at a site of injury). Between the two groups of mice, it was also found that the dust affected the types of microbiomes in the lungs. The mice exposed to dust had more prevalence of microbiomes overall (especially in a few specific types).

However, there is evidence that filtered air provides protection against dust and there are implications of keeping in mind the potential impact of the microbial residues and chemical compounds in dust emissions.