These studies are the reverse of rigorous, but I am quite willing to  
join in the suspicion that air pollution does affect respiratory  
disease rates and quite possibly increases the severity of virus  
diseases such as influenza once contracted. Cities in the 19th c. were  
certainly intense breeding grounds of illnesses such as TB. But flu  
epidemics and pandemics go back to well before cars or even coal smoke.

Best,
Michael

On May 2, 2009, at 8:08 AM, Jim West wrote:

> MB starts off-topic with a smear about "rigor".  Nevertheless, I'll  
> rebutt.
>
> My studies are the most rigorous toxicological studies of "swine  
> flu" and
> "polio".  Provide a more rigorous toxicology study, if rigor is  
> truly a concern.
>
> Returning to topic:  "Swine flu" toxicology
>
> Before commenting, view epicenters (via google maps, described below).
> Images show what orthodox media is omitting.
>
> =========
> On Fri, 1 May 2009 09:09:43 -0700, Michael Balter <[log in to unmask] 
> >
> wrote:
>
>> I think we can all appreciate the scientific rigor of Jim's study,  
>> which
>> meets the same high standards as his earlier study demonstrating  
>> that polio
>> is caused by pesticides and not a virus.
>>
>> MB
>>
>> On Fri, May 1, 2009 at 9:04 AM, Jim West <[log in to unmask]> wrote:
>>
>>> I would like comments on my environmental study of "Swine flu",  
>>> presented
>>> here.
>>>
>>> NYC (my home town) is the US epicenter.  I'm considering the  
>>> recent time
>>> period of 4/22 - 4/29/2009
>>>
>>> Two main epicenters listed for NYC are reviewed below.
>>>
>>> Epicenter #1
>>> Google map keywords:
>>> "St. Francis Preparatory School" Queens
>>>
>>> Note (satellite view) strictly adjacent are three expressways and  
>>> traffic
>>> loops and NW is the La Guardia main take-off lane directly in line.
>>>
>>> Epicenter #2
>>> Google map keywords:
>>> "Rye School" Westchester
>>>
>>> Note (satellite view) strictly adjacent are two expressways and  
>>> loops.
>>>
>>> Weather conditions for Queens
>>>
>>> In the week of the emerging "Swine Flu" epidemic, note that on  
>>> April 22nd
>>> wind moved to zero mph, stayed slow and then again to zero mph on  
>>> 24th, the
>>> day when many students "suddently lined up at the nurse's station  
>>> with
>>> nausea", etc.  Usuallly, wind averages are closer to 10mph.  Air  
>>> pollution
>>> could not disperse away from school, and would concentrations would
>>> increase
>>> from vehicular exhaust.
>>>
>>> Temperature is very high, and high temperature defeats exhaust  
>>> convection,
>>> leading to higher ground-level pollution.
>>>
>>> Wind direction is from the three adjacent expressways.
>>>
>>> Examples Misc
>>> Other epicenters mentioned in the media are "Mexico City", "New  
>>> Jersey",
>>> "Austin Texas", which if looked into (weather and location) may find
>>> similar
>>> environmental causations.
>>>
>>> Symptoms
>>> "Swine flu" symptoms, fever, nausea, headache, disentery, etc., are
>>> similar,
>>> appropriate for concern about these air pollution scenarios.
>>>
>>
>>
>>
>> --
>> ******************************************
>> Michael Balter
>> Contributing Correspondent, Science
>> Adjunct Professor of Journalism,
>> Boston University
>>
>> Email:           [log in to unmask]
>>
>> Website:       michaelbalter.com
>> Balter's Blog: michael-balter.blogspot.com
>> ******************************************
>>
>