Air in Danger Ionization ORIONS

AIR IN DANGER

CHAPTER III

THE BLUE PLANET

1 - BIRTH AND LIFE OF AN ATMOSPHERE

It is old, almost as old as the Earth as it wraps and protects as well from the mortal cold of the space as of the fatal radiation of the Sun...

Because if it distributes us without reserve vital oxygen, we forget too easily which delicate balances it has the role of maintaining, allowing the life to open out and triumph since soon three billion years.

It protects the Earth and it was born from the Earth !

But what is necessary for the life - in any case with that which occurred on our Earth - to appear and develop, to build increasingly complex organizations and to lead to the intelligence?

Three fundamental elements: carbon, hydrogen, oxygen. It will be necessary to associate to them a little nitrogen, phosphorus, calcium, iron or magnesium, some pinches of elements with subtle functions... and all will be able to start!

Remain however two large, very big problems, which it will absolutely be necessary to solve, so that the life does not keep a completely primitive form, confined in the marine environment protective, feeder, but terribly constraining...

It is initially the problem of oxygen, essential at terrestrial organizations which it will ensure the supply in energy, making it possible to resist broad variations in temperature and ensuring the operation of complex bodies. But it is also and as much the problem of the intense ultraviolet radiation, poured with profusion by a young overflowing Sun of energy!

Because no organic life resists the degradation caused by such a radiation and the primitive, transparent atmosphere with the ultraviolet ray, would absolutely not have authorized the appearance of the least terrestrial life.

Then? He well, once again, after much from others, Nature - or his Large Organizer - will show us that she did not leave definitely anything randomly!

Remember: " ordinary " oxygen, that of which the primitive atmosphere comprises only some traces, counts two atoms: it is the molecule 02 .

But there exists also a very particular " variety " of oxygen whose molecule counts either two but three atoms: it is also a gas, ozone.

And it is there that the business becomes really extraordinary: how is born indeed ozone?

Quite simply, if statement is dared, starting from the molecule of oxygen struck by the solar ultraviolet radiation. Indeed, under the action of this radiation, 3 molecules of oxygen, cash thus 6 atoms, will give 2 ozone molecules: the account is good.

This occurs in fact at high altitude (above twenty-five kilometres), where ozone thus could settle.

Is this all? He well not! Because essence will come now this ozone, which has just been born under the impact from the solar ultraviolet ray, is a body strongly absorbent of this solar ultraviolet ray, in particular " hard " radiations more, mortals for any living organism.

Thus the loop is buckled, and this molecule of oxygen - moreover passably extraordinary - will bring all for which the life had an imperative need to develop out of water. Indeed, after essential oxygen will have been gradually set up, the " layer " of ozone, which will not cease any more being present, will let filter and arrive on the ground only very weak quantity of ultraviolet ray, whose alive world will be able to be protected... and which it will use if necessary for its needs!

If it is thus an essential fact of which we are henceforth absolutely certain, it is that our life - or our survival - holds with two small things that we were forgetting: a beautiful colored molecule, the chlorophyll of the plants, creative permanent of essential oxygen, and a thin layer of ozone very old and very fragile.

However, without this layer of ozone, no more chlorophyll, without chlorophyll, no more oxygen, without oxygen, no more life. In front of that, we cannot ANYTHING.

What do you think about it?

Thus, it is absolutely certain that, without ozone, no life could have been born and develop on our planet. He well, it however should be recalled that ozone is also one of the natural substances most completely unsuitable maintaining the life, and that it is with the surplus perfectly able to destroy it....

Remember: an ozone molecule, it is a molecule of oxygen thus comprising 2 atoms, which acquired a third atom of oxygen. Such a molecule is unstable, because it is created by absorbing an energy which it will store, as well as mini-bends; this energy will come here from the solar radiation always available, in other cases from sources of natural electric energy (storms) or artificial (generators of very high voltages, industrialists or others). In upper atmosphere, that gives us the protective coating about which I already spoke you: the effect is then perfectly beneficial, no doubt with that!

But here! In lower atmosphere, two micropolluants at least are too often pre-sent: hydrocarbon aerosols badly burned by our heating's and our engines, and various oxides of nitrogen born of the high temperature of the gases burned and rejected into the atmosphere. Under the influence of the solar radiation and in the presence of these two pollutants, true accessory, our local oxygen is transformed into ozone, whose biochemical properties do one of the most dangerous pollutants than we have to fight or avoid. Why that?

Because ozone is " oxidizing " terribly powerful. In the presence of materials, inert or alive, able to fix oxygen (that with which our organization is abundantly furnished), ozone breaks up immediately into an " ordinary " molecule of oxygen, without particular effects, and a " oxygen incipient " in form atomic, able to burn literally and irremediably all that it will reach. It could be for example the mucous membranes of our respiratory tracts, or the cornea of our eyes, whose natural defenses are alas completely impotent opposite this aggression. And this with concentrations as weak as 1 ozone molecule for 10 Million molecules of air. However atmosphere of many urban or industrial sites, or that of closed buildings in which a photocopier functions, comprise ozone rates exceeding too often largely this value.

Element to be protected at all costs in upper atmosphere, it thus proves which ozone is the element to be eliminated at all costs from the air that we breathe... and which of course we must absolutely avoid to get in !

We do not have there, once again, one of these extraordinary paradoxes which nature seems to be attached to our benefit... and often also for our distress?!

2 - AND SINCE ALWAYS... IONIZATION

Above all, point out what is our atmosphere today: a mixture of 80 % of nitrogen (N₂) , 19 % of oxygen (O₂), 1 % approximately of argon and other rare gases, vapor of water and multitude of undesirable products which we do not cease pouring there! Let us not forget obviously carbon dioxide (CO 2), unceasingly rejected by the volcanoes but also residue of combustions, whose temperature regulator role of our sphere is an extreme subject. Here for the actors.

Each one of them has, if I dare statement, its character, its manias. Thus, oxygen is extremely fond of delicacies electrons; you will have thus much sorrow to find an electron solitary ambling in the countryside. As soon as appeared, as soon as devoured by a molecule of oxygen which becomes thus the " famous " negative ion which we will write henceforth (do not forget, the physicists are sparing): (O₂^-). However this ion is very stable and lasts long " life" : its possible effects are obviously increased by it by as much. Let us add that it readily joins several molecules water, that the ambient air contains always more or less, thus giving a very mobile " small ion ", very sensitive to the presence of foreign electric charges, in particular positive.

Conversely, the nitrogen is not fond of delicacies electrons. If of adventure you manage to him to hang one of them, it gets rid some in less one millionth of second! Of course, struck by a radiation, the molecule of nitrogen of the air loses an electron and gives a positive ion (N₂⁺) . Although shorter than that of the ion (0₂^-), the " lifespan " of the ion (N₂⁺) is sufficient to enable him to exert its influence on the other components of the atmosphere. Decided well to find its neutrality one moment compromised, our molecule (N₂⁺) goes, benefiting from the presence of various undesirable molecules (sulfuretted compounds, oxides of nitrogen, etc), to take an electron on an innocent atom of hydrogen implied well in spite of him in this business. Its achieved larceny, our molecule of neutral nitrogen become again... and anonymity, will await the next impact wisely, while hydrogen, become positive proton, will hasten to hide its nudity... in water!

Conversely, the nitrogen is not fond of delicacies electrons. If of adventure you manage to him to hang one of them, it gets rid some in less one millionth of second! Of course, struck by a radiation, the molecule of nitrogen of the air loses an electron and gives a positive ion (N₂⁺). Although shorter than that of the ion (0₂^-), the " lifespan " of the ion (N₂⁺) is sufficient to enable him to exert its influence on the other components of the atmosphere. Decided well to find its neutrality one moment compromised, our molecule (N₂⁺) goes, benefiting from the presence of various undesirable molecules (sulfuretted compounds, oxides of nitrogen, etc), to take an electron on an innocent atom of hydrogen implied well in spite of him in this business. Its achieved larceny, our molecule of neutral nitrogen become again... and anonymity, will await the next impact wisely, while hydrogen, become positive proton, will hasten to hide its nudity... in water!

It will reach that point while being surrounded of a certain number of water molecules always present, thus giving a "small positive ion " to long lifespan... except capture by the micro pollutants or the ground. Not simple, this genesis of positive ions! Admittedly, but thanks to the presence in the air of four molecules of nitrogen for a molecule of oxygen, four chances to have an electron easy to obtain, captured at once by a perfectly miserly oxygen as of his, and thinking only of becoming a negative ion!

That lasts since more than three billion years, and the birth and the development of the life on ground obviously integrated this completely fundamental factor.

Well! We thus have an air containing a certain proportion, very stable moreover, ions oxygenates with its own characteristics .

But we also have " on the arms" aqueous" positive ions (H⁺) of which we would like to know what to make! Patience! Nature took care of the problem, in order to preserve the ions oxygenates, for which it had remote but precise projects.

Let us reconsider one moment the structure of our atmosphere.

Table N° IX schematises the situation created by the positive loads coming from the Sun and by the storms, and the consequences which it comprises: the ground will invincibly attract the positive loads of the vicinity and will push back the negative charges. : the ground will invincibly attract the positive loads of the vicinity and will push back the negative charges.

A state of local balance will settle then; in the absence of additional sources of electrons, " small positive and negative ions " will be of about equal numbers, with a light prevalence of the positive ions near the ground, numbers close to the thousand per cm 3 of air, extremely stable value in not polluted natural environments. In the presence of " additional " sources of electrons (which we will see soon), it is the prevalence of a negative ionization of the air which one observes then, with a certain number of consequences of which we will also speak again.

But that one is not mistaken there: such mechanisms do not function in a way regular, harmonious, only if the air remains pure of any stain, accidental or deliberated, and in the absence of strong disturbances. Is it then surprising that the behavior and the state of the alive beings are subject to the same rules?

Table 9

A question came certainly to you to mind since already a moment: these ions of oxygen and nitrogen whose reality isn't obviously contestable, from which thus come they, which created them?

If you look at table N° X, you will see gathered the natural causes of the ionization of the air, that one can group in two categories.

Table 10

1 - Causes implementing a very energy radiation or particles: cosmic rays, solar U.V., natural radioactivity of the rocks, radon contained in the air. In all these cases, an electron will be torn off by the " shock " of the incidental particle or by " the impact " of the radiation, giving of course rise to a " pair of ions" : they will be generally a positive ion nitrogenises and a violently expelled electron, but which will very quickly be acquired by a molecule of oxygen becoming thus a negative ion (0₂^-) . The number of pairs of ions thus created varies, on the sea level, from two to a few tens produced per second and per millilitre (or Cm³) of air.

2 - The other natural causes, which operate with energies much weaker, but whose contribution is however essential, though variable with the place, are:

- the chlorophyllous function of all the plants which leads in particular to the rejection of (0₂^-) in the atmosphere.

- the Lenard effect, concerning the rain and the cascades. The friction of the air on the water drops, the impact of those on the ground or the rocks, tear off electrons with these drops; their positive load is captured at once by the ground while the electrons of course are immediately trapped by oxygen.

- the effect of point or Corona effect: the positively charged upper atmosphere unceasingly attracts the electrons, those of the ground in particular. Any object fixed on the ground and driver of the current, rising and finishing points some (lightning conductor, sheets of graminaceous and all conifers, etc.) will see the electrons come from the ground to accumulate at the top of the point and, under the influence of their mutual repulsion, to be torn off with this point and to gain the atmosphere to be captured at once there by oxygen (see table N° XI).

Table 11

Well, very well, you say you! But to remove electrons of the ground unceasingly and to dispatch to him without stop positive charges, how can there remain to him still only one valid electron?

He well, for once, nature did not haggle over the means and the large spectacle offers to us: it is with the storm that it entrusted the responsibility to restore " wholesale" and very quickly what it gently takes on the ground .

Table N° XII is a diagram very simplified but faithful of this superb and noisy phenomenon. And the wonder is that once again, it is the water which will be responsible for this phenomenon!

Table 12

Water in drops liquidate with the lower part of the gigantic cloud (the typical " cumulonimbus"), the crystals of ice to the higher part.

Agitating all that, formidable ascending draughts, of which all the measurements made by the embarked apparatuses on board planes, the gust proof, show that the crystals of ice of the top of the cloud have an enormous positive load, while the drops or droplets of the base carry a not less enormous negative charge.

What can it then arrive? Just until you wait. Torn off by the monstrous electric forces, packages of electrons are precipitated towards the positive parts of the cloud; the brutality of their passage violently overheats the air which becomes luminous about it: it is the flash; the shock of the air to the passage of the " packages " of electrons generates what well wrongly causes the most fear: thunder.

And the lightning?

He well, it is the same thing, except that the " packages " of electrons join the ground, with great crash, thus restoring blow by blow to him the invaluable electrons which it will again be able and unceasingly to redistribute in the atmosphere (in fact, 90 % of the thunderbolts are " with electrons").

Our Earth being prone daily to several thousands of storms, it never risked, and does not risk more, to miss electrons!...

With this " refill " of the Earth - in fact, of its surface primarily - a strong injection of electrons in the lower atmosphere is added, under the effect of the abundant rains which accompany in particular the end of the storms: this circumstance makes it possible to restore quickly and intensely the normal negative density of the air, that the initial phase of the storm had brutally reversed. Besides we will see at which point these successive phases resound on the physiological state of certain particularly sensitive individuals and crosschecks the observations made in artificially charged atmospheres, either positively, or negatively.

3 - IONIZATION AND MICROPOLLUTION

It was a long time difficult - if not impossible - to as well measure with precision the ionization rate of the air as the nature and the quantity of micro pollutants present.

Difficult to measure, the atmospheric charge is undoubtedly: it is always weak, very easily disturbed in particular by the measuring equipment if extreme precautions are not taken - and it requires at the same time delicate materials to use, rare operators having long experience, a careful interpretation.

This most probably explains the rather extraordinary divergences between the results obtained by the many biologists having tried experiments in artificially ionized mediums, but not having the control essential of the physical devices to be implemented.

It is fortunately less difficult to operate in external atmosphere and the results obtained are of a very good fidelity. In particular, it is noticed very quickly besides that ionization characterizes very definitely certain sites and makes it possible to observe very interesting correlations with their healthiness... or on the contrary certain duly recognized disadvantages.

In insulated countryside, in low altitude, the negative average density is 1 to 1,5 a thousand of ions (0₂^-) by cm³ of air, also current value in forest of aired plain, where it can however reach 3 to 5 thousands per cm 3 the nature of the ground also playing a role on this level.

On average mountain (1000 to 1500 meters of altitude), in zones carrying conifers (fir trees in particular), the negative density is very often high: from 5 to 8 thousands of negative ions per cm 3 and can reach the 10 thousands.

In the presence of cascades where the wrenching of electrons involves the existence of very strong local densities: from 10 to 50 thousands of ions (0 2 - by Cm3 in a perimeter of several tens to a hundred of meters, according to the importance of the cascade.

Raised densities, from 5 to 10 thousands per cm³, are also recorded on snow, by sky clearly in particular.

In edge of sea, in calm weather and in the absence of spray, one finds from 2 to 4 thousands of negative ions per cm 3

On the other hand, the wind of sea bringing of the spray causes in general a brutal inversion of electric charge; pulled by the wind, the salted water microdots evaporates, leaving a salt grain positively charged (frictions on the air), enough light to remain suspended in the air and to accumulate there, thus involving the inversion of charge of the local atmosphere, and its consequences among certain patients.

We stop one moment to point out a fact of observation as fundamental as systematic. In all places where reign this atmosphere with strong density in " small ions ", generally with negative preponderance, the micropollution of the air is always weak, and even extremely weak , of less than 1000 particles per liter with approximately 2000, according to the sites, the ground, the wind. It is an interesting value there, to compare with the micropollution measured in our offices or our dwellings, where it is 100 to 500 times higher...

This astonishing relation between a negative density that it is necessary well to describe as strictly normal, and the weakness of the micropollution, is a physical fact completely some, but full of consequences. It characterizes, without any exception the places that the secular experiment recognized healthy, salubrious, even able to restore our failing health at the time of these too short stays which are the " cures "...

Let us add to that that the micropolluants met on these places are in near total of natural origin, and that, so the living organisms which introduce them developed very long date necessary immunizing defences.

Now let us cross this " threshold of healthiness " illustrated on table N° XIII, and enter a quite different world, not very attractive, but which is more and more that in which we live.

We observe there the brutal fall of the density of small negative ions ; from a few hundreds of ions per cm 3 of surrounding air, in urban sites " light " and deprived of sources of industrial pollution, this density falls at a few tens per cm 3 in apartments or offices not air-conditioned and without smokers, to break down with some negative ions per cm 3 extremely low residual value, in the air-conditioned buildings.

Serious in itself, in particular for the pulmonary gaseous exchange where (0₂^-) plays an essential role, this shortage of negative ions is severely worsened by the presence of a positive charge in general considerable, systematically related to the presence of a strong density of micropolluants .

It is observed indeed that the positive densities, recorded in the places thus affected, are always higher than 1 a thousand of positive charges per cm 3 of air, and reach 5 thousands per cm 3 in certain buildings equipped with air-conditioning or ventilation.

Table 13

Such values are extremely alarming, and emerge besides for the people concerned, on multiple faintnesses or disorders on which it becomes increasingly difficult to maintain silence or the denial.

We will return there. But we must mark this stage in our progression well before, because it reflects at the same time a completely fundamental physical fact for our atmosphere and an extremely alarming situation for the future of our health. The two proposals which follow then summarize in a brutal but indisputable way the currently known experimental facts, in an unquestionable and systematically checked way :

- a salubrious atmosphere always has weak or very weak micropollution, joined to the only presence of small ions of the two signs, of which a negative charge higher than 1,5 a thousand of negative ions per cm 3 of air, presenting in addition quasi therapeutic properties for densities higher than 5 thousands of negative ions per cm 3

- an atmosphere found unhealthy always presents strong or very strong micropollution, joined to quasi an absence of small in particular negative ions, and to a clear positive charge higher than 500 large positive ions per cm 3 of air, generally ranging between 1 and 5 thousands of positive ions per cm 3

We now should understand the origin of such a situation if we want to give each other the means of bringing remedy there. For that, let us reconsider one moment the behavior of the micropolluants and their relationships to the electric charges, in the closed places.

Table N° XIV summarizes the two essential mechanisms by which a particle present in the air is likely all to acquire a positive charge, preferably with a negative charge. We will deal here with the micropolluants present in an inhabited or attended room, since it is there that they will accumulate and that we will have to suffer from their effects.

Table 14

Same manner as in free atmosphere, the various radiations, radon, the abrasion caused by ventilation, will tear off one or more electrons with the present micro particles: those thus will acquire the equivalent positive load, becoming what the physicist Paul Langevin had called " large positive ions ". Unfortunately, these large ions are far from mobile, in any case not more than the particle which supports them, while electrons and oxygen that transports them are very light, very mobile, easily captured by the surrounding objects which eliminate them.

Thus an over density of positive charges is established quickly, dependent on the micropolluants present, and like them able to remain very, very a long time, and to renew themselves.

The second means for a micro particle of becoming a large positive ion, it is... to capture a small positive ion created according to the processes described above. It is a mechanism which will occur in particular in the vicinity of the data-processing video screens, of the television sets colour, of the photocopiers, sources powerful of U.V. and of ozone in addition!

The positive charge, thus acquired by the micropolluants present, is in general weak or moderate; however, by electric repulsion between identical charges, it vigorously slows down any mechanism of agglomeration of the particles between them, and any chance of fall towards a ground of which we will see that it is hardly " accessible besides "! Such an effect is particularly harmful in the case of the aerosols ( liquid microdots) polluting or toxic: hydrocarbons, acid fogs, etc, which will thus tend to stagnate very a long time, fault of being able to condense in enough heavy drops to return on the ground .

And now, let us see what occurs permanently in our apartments, our offices, our places of dwelling, where precisely and unfortunately a strong micropollution and a strong positive load are always simultaneously present.

Table N° XV schematises this situation; let us specify that the absence of television set or air-conditioning decreases certainly the positive load, but that this one alas preserves a completely unacceptable value in all the cases

Table 15

The ground is almost always insulating. Traversed, pressed, rubbed, it fatally will lose electrons, carried and run out by the various drivers present: pipeline water and of electricity, central heating radiators, and you who, in all innocence, will pour them in more accessible places!

In short, very quickly, an overload, which can be significant and of positive sign, will appear and remain stable. Never forget indeed but if the electron can go and come, with an extreme facility, the positive charges, related to the cores of the matter atoms, are literally riveted with this one and can almost never escape some!

Then be not astonished if the clear charge which settles very quickly in a room is positive!

And if, in order to increase your comfort, you have a system of air-conditioning or ventilation, the " turbinate " micropolluants violently will have lost their electrons, trapped by the surrounding conducting structures, and will liberally feed you in positive loads of which they will be the innocent vehicle...

Add to that a fitted carpet thick and soft, a made deep settee of a superb synthetic fabric, light your television set colour and perhaps also a cigarette.....

Good, I stop there, because my electronic probe is likely to explode if, seized of curiosity and perhaps also of a vague fear, you asked me to show some measurements.... oh just!

I should however bring an additional precision here. When I quote the " micropolluants ", I speak of course about the whole of the particles present in an atmosphere; however these particles comprise, in a variable number with the place and the circumstances, of the alive elements, viruses, bacteria, moulds, etc, including one certain number, baptized " aero germ carriers ", are really dangerous, either that they cause serious infections, or which they start of the severe allergies.

However we know that these aero germ carriers charged positively, like any other particle, follows the fate and to become to it those, which constitute besides a support and an ideal vehicle for their dissemination!

It is thus hardly astonishing that an increasing number of social welfare, companies and of course all the mediums of Health are worried more and more problem of which they undergo the impact and the consequences, without laying out for all that solution. It appears to me in fact much more astonishing than it should so much have been awaited so that one evokes finally a situation from which people suffer since too a long time.

It is observed indeed that the positive densities, recorded in the places thus affected, are always higher than 1 a thousand of positive charge per cm 3 of air, and reach 5 thousands per cm 3 in certain buildings equipped with air-conditioning or ventilation.

Such values are extremely alarming, and emerge besides for the people concerned, on multiple faintnesses or disorders on which it becomes increasingly difficult to maintain silence or the denial.

We will return there. But we must mark this stage in our progression well before, because it reflects at the same time a completely fundamental physical fact for our atmosphere, and an extremely alarming situation for the future of our health. The two proposals which follow then summarize in a brutal but indisputable way the currently known experimental facts, in an unquestionable and systematically checked way.

- an atmosphere found unhealthy always presents strong or very strong micropollution, joined to quasi an absence of small - in particular negative - ions, and to a clear positive charge higher than 500 large positive ions per cm 3 of air, generally ranging between 1 and 5 thousands of positive ions per cm 3 .

I would not like to finish this chapter without reconsidering natural phenomena where micropolluants and electric charges, closely dependent, have effects sometimes very significant, often known since strong a long time, on the health of interested populations.

They are in particular the effects observed at the time of the arrival of typical winds of some regions :

the Foehn on all Alps of the South,

the "Autan" wind on the Pyrenees,

the Sharav, come from the desert of the Sinai, in Israel, the Khamsin in Egypt.

It is obviously not only, but in addition to they are familiar for us, they are the causes of physiological phenomena, turbid varied sometimes serious, which to date are indexed perfectly by the medical profession, and objects of studies very followed on behalf of many institutes of research, located around the Mediterranean basin in particular.

The alpine foehn, as its Pyrenean version the Autan wind, occurs in the desert parts of the north of Africa, to the borders of the Sahel. The intense heating of the ground in diurnal period, the very small relative humidity of the air, facilitate immense upward movements of this air, the formation of very strong turbulences and the drive of enormous quantities of micro-dusts up to 10 or 15 km of altitude.

The presence of a significant anticyclone on the Eastern Mediterranean, joined to low pressures on the near Atlantic , involve the increase of powerful masses of African air, overloaded in altitude of the micro-dusts collected on the continent.

Crossing the Mediterranean, they reach the Pyrenees in the west, Swiss and Tyrolean Alps in the east, and give in particular extraordinarily luminous sky . The vision of the snow-covered Swiss or Tyrolean Alps when the foehn occurs is a spectacle of a rare beauty which know and appreciate the mountain dwellers... and those which like a certain light.

This illumination of the sky is due obviously to the intense diffusion of sunlight by the innumerable micro particles present in the upper atmosphere.

And it is without surprise that, from 24 to 48 hours later, one sees occurring the rain, but a quite particular rain, overloaded with these micro particles and leaving, when it evaporates, a fine powdery layer of ochre colour on all things...

It is there the aesthetic aspect, almost poetic of the things! But if it is looked at there more closely, or if there is the responsibility for a centre of cure of pulmonary patients for example, one very quickly knows what the arrival of a " blow of foehn" represents ...

The electrical measurements show indeed that, 24 to 36 hours before the establishment of the foehn, the density of charges of the atmosphere is reversed almost brutally before the arrival of the micro particles; going down again from the stratosphere where it obviously acquired a strong positive charge, the air restores it with the lower atmosphere, destroying at the same time the negative charges usually present.

This situation lasts in general two days, after which the rain occurs which gives all things in order, and makes it possible the lower atmosphere to find its usual negative charge.

The problems arising to the cardiopulmonary patients and to their doctors, on such occasions, are too known so that I insist on them. Let us recall only that many centers of cures in France, in Switzerland, in Austria, in Israel, to quote only those, have collected since several tens of years, the results of regular observations; these results show that a considerable increase in the number of the cardiovascular and pulmonary accidents results quasi systematically from the arrival of the foehn (or of the sharav in Israel).

It is important however to note that these accidents occur primarily before the establishment of the characteristic wind, and before the arrival of the micro-dusts, brought especially by the rain which makes continuation; these facts thus seem to exclude, or at least to reduce very strongly, the clean action of this micro-dusts on the behavior of the patients. It is thus extremely probable that here still, as in good of other circumstances, the role of the positive load on the gaseous exchange of a sick lung must be seriously re-examined for a convenient intervention.

Such examples - joints with much of others - must undoubtedly lengthily be contemplated.....

In particular by all those, many, supposed qualified and often " persons in charge ", who persist in against any obviousness thinking, but especially to claim, that these phenomena are to some extent the folklore of physics.

By those which, resigned and sometimes discouraged by the first, think that we are disarmed in front of a kind of fate. By those finally which, exactly informed of the facts of the case, if not of its possible solutions, neglect or refuse, for " various " reasons, the study and least implemented of such solutions.

But while time is lost, the evil progresses! I will finish this matter by the recall of a short official statement of the French Ministry of Health, diffused on a chain of television in April 1990, which alas did not lose anything of its topicality:

" the services of the Ministry and the medical environments are very worried about the regular growth, very significant during this last winter, however particularly soft, of the rhino pharynges disorders of the young children, disturb often accompanied by pulmonary complications."

This alarming report did not cease any more being confirmed, without for as much are adopted other thing that... projects of resolutions !...

How long still " the blue planet " will it be able to accommodate us?