Susceptibility to Virus Infection with Exposure to Nitrogen Dioxide

This report addressed the hypothesis that exposure to oxidant air pollutants enhances susceptibility to viral infection. Drs. Kulle and Clements exposed healthy human volunteers who were seronegative to cold-adapted influenza A virus to clean air or nitrogen dioxide concentrations of 1, 2, or 3 ppm for two hours a day for three consecutive days. Live influenza A virus was administered intranasally to all participants after the second day of exposure. Quantitatively determined infection statuses of the volunteers were compared to elicit any differences between those exposed to clean air and those exposed to nitrogen dioxide.