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Comment by 4death4 | Hacker News Reader

Yes, but isn’t lead getting into your bloodstream worse than pollen? I mean oxygen gets into your bloodstream via inhalation…

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Which plant produces pollen at PM2.5 tho? Pollen usually isn't entering your bloodstream through your lungs, its too large.

Pollen particles are quite fragile and tend to break up into PM2.5 and smaller, especially during rain events. See for instance the reference below.

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.aeaoa.2022.100177

In addition to pollen, there are spores from both mushrooms and ferns. Both of which are common cloud-seeding particles and can often be PM2.5

Most pollen is captured at pm10 or higher level. PM2.5 tends to be created by humans

Crossing the blood brain barrier exacerbates not only asthma but other vascular/heart and related diseases, including diabetes, as well as lung diseases.

Worse in what way? Lead is a long term neurotoxin, but pollen triggers the immune system and makes you miserable. Both are bad but in different ways.

It’s really unclear to you why a long term neurotoxin that leads to lifelong disability is worse than allergy producing pollen?

It isn't clear until you are suffering from allergies, and notice that old people who used to chew on lead fishing weights are not all that bad off. Most people with high lead in their bodies don't realize the issue nor to the people they know.

> used to chew on lead fishing weights

Chunks of lead just aren't that bad. https://doi.org/10.2146/ajhp060175 lists common sources of lead poisoning, and none of them are lead weights.

Common sources involve things like airborne lead powder (from grinding or smelting), lead compounds dissolved in food & water, paint, and lead in soil.

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