Air pollution reduces the effectiveness of antibiotics

According to The Times of India air pollution makes bacteria more dangerous. Specialists from the University of Leicester made this conclusion. A black carbon is one of the major air pollutants. Studies have shown that black carbon affects the growth and formation of bacterial communities.

The researchers studied staphylococci and pneumococci. They have found that black carbon changed the tolerance of Staphylococcus aureus to antibiotics and increased the resistance of pneumococci to penicillin (first line drug for bacterial pneumonia). Also, black carbon contributed to the pneumococcus to get into the respiratory tract from the nose that may cause the development of disease.

By the way, experts from the Massachusetts Hospital claim that the consumption of products with omega-3 fatty acids can significantly reduce the body damage caused by air pollution. For example Omega-3 acids are found in oily fish, soy and spinach.

Source: The Times of India.