VIRUS & CLIMATE CHANGE, POSSIBLE LINK

This article was written by an Action Network user not the BBC

Updated: 20 Apr 2006

By ferrand stobart, Herefordshire, County of

THE POSSIBLE LINK BETWEEN GLOBAL WARMING/CLIMATE CHANGE AND INCREASES IN VIRAL ACTIVITY DUE TO INCREASED CARBON DIOXIDE IN THE ATMOSPHERE

In the late 1980's I was in touch with the Carbon Dioxide Division of the US Dept of Energy, concerning the Bethesda Conference in June 1980 on The Effect of Carbon Dioxide on Mammalian Organisms. Ref 2 A subsequent letter down played the physiological effects discussed at the conference. Ref 3 BUT:

In a telephone conversation with the Chairman of the Bethesda Conference, a Professor at New York State University, it became clear that no attention at all had been paid to any possible effects of rising CO2 levels on Virus Activity. Thus putting a different complexion on the possible importance of rising CO2 levels than that suggested by the US Dept. of Energy's letter. Which also did not refer to possible viral activity problems.

This may be very important, as CO2 is an acid gas and virus' prefer more acid conditions. This has been confirmed recently about the Foot and Mouth Virus, Ref 4]is well documented for the Influenza Virus Ref 5, and may well also apply to the EBOLA and SARS Virus'. Ref 6 This form of "life" passes through many "generations" in a short time scale, and is therefore much more likely to "mutate" under the stimulus of more "benign" (acid) conditions. Than Mankind, or any other air breathing species, with much longer "breeding cycles".

Increasing CO2 in the atmosphere might cause changes in breathing rates, and other problems Refs 7, 8, 9 & 10 Also a lowering of blood stream pH ? The latter would in theory encourage viral activity. Ref 2 & 6 Especially in warmer conditions. However as far as can be determined the foregoing was not a subject at the 1998 International Conference on Emerging Infectious Diseases at Atlanta, USA. {Ref 11]. HIV Which is not affected by pH changes and Climate Change were subjects for discussion. A number of individuals and organisations listed in the programme and abstracts would be worth consulting. And concerns have been expressed recently on the increased acidification of the Oceans, with harmful effects to Marine Life. Ref 10

It is suggested therefore that the “biological plague” of Mankind has both a physical and a physiological problem with rising CO2 levels. Refs 12,13 Given that Nature made mammalian life possible by using leguminous life to reduce the CO2 content of the atmosphere. Followed by "burying" it as coal, gas and oil.

The reverse could now be starting with that "locked up" Carbon being released by the life form its reduction made possible. Following an old saying that plagues contain the seeds of their own destruction.

Avian ‘Flu may be being “encouraged” by the more “benign” atmosphere that it is now living in ? Interestingly there is a “discontinuity” in Atmospheric Carbon Dioxide levels towards the end of World War I. Is it possible that due to the great quantities of CO2 released through explosives and transport fuel a “threshold” was reached which activated the “Spanish ‘Flu” virus ?

And given the intense use of coal in China, a "CO2 induced plague" is more likely to start there ?

Global Warming may be the perceived threat Ref 14 but Virus behaviour changes a more immediate and dangerous one ?

REFERENCES

1/. Billins, Peter, British Biogen, in a workshop at the NEMEX Exhibition at the NEC, 18 November 1999. (Data on CO2 increases in the atmosphere)

2/. Effects of CO2 on Mammalian Organisms Report of a Workshop, 5-6 June 1980, Bethesda, Maryland USA, published Dec 1982 by the US Dept of Energy, ref CONF-800249 (with disclaimer) 24 US and one European scientist attended. (Undersea Medical Society Inc, 9650 Rockville Pike, Bethesda, Maryland, 20014, USA). Page 10-3 possible effects on enzyme systems which are pH dependant ? Pages 10-6 to 10-13 Malignancies reference to lymphoma and mammary gland lymphoma effects. (12 references). Page 12-2 possible changes in blood pH.

3/. Bland M K, Bailey H C, and Lipsett M J The Direct Biological Effects of Increased Atmospheric Carbon Dioxide Levels, Stanford Research Institute International, US Environmental Protection Agency, Washington DC, 1982.

4/. The last outbreak of Foot and Mouth Disease was described as "more virulent". The atmosphere has about 12 ore Carbon Dioxide in it than in 1967. Is there any link here ? NFU President, Ben Gill, confirms that the virus is "pH sensitive". (Private Communication

5/. Beyer W E P, Ruigrok R W H, van Driel H & Masuel N, Influenza Virus Strains with a Fusion Threshold of pH 5.5 or lower are inhibited by Amantadine. Archives of Virology, vol 90, pp 717-181, pub Springer-Verlag. (Example of pH sensitivity in Virus').

6/. See http://www.meridianinstitute.com/newslet/Vol7-3/7-3.html

7/. NIOSH recommendations for Occupational Safety and Health Standards. Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report Supplement, 34:No.1S, 1985.

8/. Characteristics of Information Requirements for Studies of CO2 effects Water Resources, Agriculture, Fisheries, Forests and Human Health. Ed. White M R, DOE/ER-0236, US Dept of Energy, 1985.

9/. Organic Claustrophobia, an association between panic and Carbon Dioxide. Freinhar et al. Int. J Psychosom, 34(2) 18-9, 1987.

10/. Experimental Induction of Anxiety, the case of Carbon Dioxide, Greiez E, Encephale Nov-Dec 1987, 13(6) 335-9 (36 references)

11/. International Conference on Emerging Diseases, March 8-11 1998, Atlanta, USA. (A lot of un-answered questions)

12/. See http://www.royalsoc.ac.uk/news.asp?id=3250

13/. Beneveniste, Dr Jaques, Effect of dilute solutions in Human Blood Streams, published in Nature, July 1988, and reported in the Daily Telegraph Magazine, 29 October 1988.

14/. Stobart A F The Greenhouse Effect and the Cost of Pollution, Talk given in October 1986, published in The Scorpion May 1987, and in Energy World March 1988.

Andrew Stobart, BSc (Chem Eng) Bower Orchard, Church Lane, Orleton, Nr. Ludlow, SY8 4HU, tel 01 568 780837, email mand01t@ferrand.care4free.net

October 1999, revised April 2001, August 2002, April 2003, August 2004 & April 2006 e & oe.

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