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Viruses, Pathogens, and Other Contaminants
exposure to the spores, along with the health of the victim’s immune system.
A severe infection can lead to “Valley Fever,” a dangerous and sometimes
fatal disease (as one of the authors experienced frsthand while a graduate
student at Arizona State University and Utah State University). Another disease that can be transmitted through air is Legionnaires’ disease—a severe
form of pneumonia. Caused by the legionella bacterium, Legionnaires’
disease comes from inhaling the bacteria from water or soil (Mayo Clinic,
2019). As suspected with COVID-19, the degree of exposure is correlated
with the severity of the illness. In the summer months, malfunctioning
air conditioning equipment can be a breeding ground for the bacteria and
lead to prolonged exposure in hotels in the Southwest—much as air conditioning appears to be a mechanism for contaminating an airspace with
coronaviruses.
Coronavirus is a zoonotic disease, inviting further comparison to pathogenic fungi commonly associated with food poisoning. Pathogen-based food
poisoning is most often associated with bacteria such as E. coli, Salmonella,
Campylobacter, and others in contaminated lettuce, sprouts, and other leafy
greens, as well as in almonds and other tree nut crops. It is primarily spread
in improperly washed, processed, or stored foods. However, there are reports
of airborne transport of pathogens like E. coli from animal herds and feed
lots to downwind vegetable felds and orchards. This may be exacerbated by
the presence of animal feces in and around felds adjacent to vegetable growing areas such as in the San Joaquin and Salinas Valleys (Harris, Mandrell,
UC, Davis, personal communication). Manure also creates particulate matter
containing pathogens like fungi that get distributed in air or get into the
food supply, leading to sickness and fatalities. Released or escaped domestic
pigs can also contaminate vegetable felds through feces, leading to E. coli
outbreaks. The European boar, introduced possibly by Spanish explorers and
settlers, causes $800 million in estimated damage in the United States and is
present in ~40 states. And, it carries more than 30 viral and bacterial diseases.
Inhalation of anthrax spores (Bacillus anthracis), the most dangerous type
of exposure, causes fu-like symptoms (fevers, chills, stomach pains, body
aches, etc.) and is accompanied by a drenching sweat (U.S. CDC). Without
treatment mortality is close to 90%, but drops to 55% when aggressively
treated. People can be exposed when working with infected animals or by
products obtained from infected animals.
Anthrax is a danger due to its facile development into a biological weapon:
it is naturally occurring, easy to culture, easily dispersed, and persists in
the environment. Anthrax was used in a bioterrorism attack in 2001: letters
containing anthrax were mailed to several U.S. offcials. Of the 22 exposures, fve people died (Ember, 2006). In a later incident, Dugway Proving
Ground (U.S. military facility) accidentally sent live anthrax spores through
the mail to U.S. labs and a lab in South Korea. The mistake was blamed on
poor oversight and the diffculty in using irradiation to deactivate spores
(Reardon, 2015).
Viruses, Pathogens, and Other Contaminants
exposure to the spores, along with the health of the victim’s immune system.
A severe infection can lead to “Valley Fever,” a dangerous and sometimes
fatal disease (as one of the authors experienced frsthand while a graduate
student at Arizona State University and Utah State University). Another disease that can be transmitted through air is Legionnaires’ disease—a severe
form of pneumonia. Caused by the legionella bacterium, Legionnaires’
disease comes from inhaling the bacteria from water or soil (Mayo Clinic,
2019). As suspected with COVID-19, the degree of exposure is correlated
with the severity of the illness. In the summer months, malfunctioning
air conditioning equipment can be a breeding ground for the bacteria and
lead to prolonged exposure in hotels in the Southwest—much as air conditioning appears to be a mechanism for contaminating an airspace with
coronaviruses.
Coronavirus is a zoonotic disease, inviting further comparison to pathogenic fungi commonly associated with food poisoning. Pathogen-based food
poisoning is most often associated with bacteria such as E. coli, Salmonella,
Campylobacter, and others in contaminated lettuce, sprouts, and other leafy
greens, as well as in almonds and other tree nut crops. It is primarily spread
in improperly washed, processed, or stored foods. However, there are reports
of airborne transport of pathogens like E. coli from animal herds and feed
lots to downwind vegetable felds and orchards. This may be exacerbated by
the presence of animal feces in and around felds adjacent to vegetable growing areas such as in the San Joaquin and Salinas Valleys (Harris, Mandrell,
UC, Davis, personal communication). Manure also creates particulate matter
containing pathogens like fungi that get distributed in air or get into the
food supply, leading to sickness and fatalities. Released or escaped domestic
pigs can also contaminate vegetable felds through feces, leading to E. coli
outbreaks. The European boar, introduced possibly by Spanish explorers and
settlers, causes $800 million in estimated damage in the United States and is
present in ~40 states. And, it carries more than 30 viral and bacterial diseases.
Inhalation of anthrax spores (Bacillus anthracis), the most dangerous type
of exposure, causes fu-like symptoms (fevers, chills, stomach pains, body
aches, etc.) and is accompanied by a drenching sweat (U.S. CDC). Without
treatment mortality is close to 90%, but drops to 55% when aggressively
treated. People can be exposed when working with infected animals or by
products obtained from infected animals.
Anthrax is a danger due to its facile development into a biological weapon:
it is naturally occurring, easy to culture, easily dispersed, and persists in
the environment. Anthrax was used in a bioterrorism attack in 2001: letters
containing anthrax were mailed to several U.S. offcials. Of the 22 exposures, fve people died (Ember, 2006). In a later incident, Dugway Proving
Ground (U.S. military facility) accidentally sent live anthrax spores through
the mail to U.S. labs and a lab in South Korea. The mistake was blamed on
poor oversight and the diffculty in using irradiation to deactivate spores
(Reardon, 2015).