A New Natural Defense Against Airborne Pathogens

Abstract

We propose the nasal administration of calcium-enriched physiological salts as a new hygienic intervention with possible therapeutic application as a response to the rapid and tenacious spread of COVID-19. We test the effectiveness of these salts against viral and bacterial pathogens in animals and humans. We find that aerosol administration of these salts to the airways diminishes the exhalation of the small particles that face masks fail to filter and, in the case of an influenza swine model, completely block airborne transmission of disease. In a study of 10 human volunteers (5 less than 65 years and 5 older than 65 years), we show that delivery of a nasal saline comprising calcium and sodium salts quickly (within 15 min) and durably (up to at least 6 h) diminishes exhaled particles from the human airways. Being predominantly smaller than 1 μm, these particles are below the size effectively filtered by conventional masks. The suppression of exhaled droplets by the nasal delivery of calcium-rich saline with aerosol droplet size of around 10 μm suggests the upper airways as a primary source of bioaerosol generation. The suppression effect is especially pronounced (99%) among those who exhale large numbers of particles. In our study, we found this high-particle exhalation group to correlate with advanced age. We argue for a new hygienic practice of nasal cleansing by a calcium-rich saline aerosol, to complement the washing of hands with ordinary soap, use of a face mask, and social distancing.

Humidified Warmed CO2 Treatment Therapy Strategies Can Save Lives With Mitigation and Suppression of SARS-CoV-2 Infection: An Evidence Review

“…Also, when compared with other gases (Air, O 2 , N 2 , and Argon), CO 2 gas has the highest inactivated viruses and bacteria rates in different NaCl solutions, even at ambient temperatures and normal atmospheric pressure (18). Recently, Edwards et al demonstrate the effectiveness of aerosol administration of nasal saline comprising calcium and sodium salts diminishes exhaled particles and acts as a new natural defense against airborne pathogens in the human airways (36). Moreover, Zare and his teamwork report that spraying micron-sized water droplets can act as an effective disinfectant by causing inactivation of over 98% of the bacteria.…”

Nasal Calcium-Rich Salts for Cleaning Airborne Particles from the Airways of Essential Workers, Students, and a Family in Quarantine

“…These powerful air flows generate shear stress on the mucus surface, a thin layer of about 5-10 μm deep, generating tiny droplets, like sea mist. Pathogen picked back up into the air by the shedding of droplets of mucus and airway lining fluid can carry pathogen deeper into the lungs or back into the environment-potentially leading to pulmonary infection of the host and those in the vicinity of the host 16 .…”

“…Recently 16 , we reported that a solution of calcium chloride and sodium chloride, with salinity similar to ocean salinity while with a particularly high-calcium chloride content, delivered to the airways of 10 human subjects with a mist of droplets possessing a diameter between 9 and 10 μm, suited to nasal and upper airway deposition, cleans the airways of exhaled aerosol particles, with particularly significant effect in those subjects who exhale the most particles.…”

Essentials in saline pharmacology for nasal or respiratory hygiene in times of COVID-19

“…Firstly, saline irrigation or aerosol may provide moisture, and as such, protect the airways. Saline may wet proteins, altering their functioning, contributing to a better quality of the ALF, its improved spreading, less bio-aerosol production, and -by its isotonic nature -it may also reverse bronchoconstriction, in case of hyper-secreted, potentially hypotonic ALF [16][17][18][19]31,37,38,61] Through these mechanisms, isotonic saline may aid to improve the oxygen passage and ventilation of the lungs during COVID-19.…”

“…Only recently, it has been shown that saline inhibits replication of SARS-CoV-2 in vitro in Vero cells (see further point 3) [ [33]], while a study with nebulized neutral electrolyzed saline was found to reduce the qPCR positivity of the virus in 6 out of 10 subjects by day 4, in 80% by day 6 and in all of them by day 9 (for clinical results, see point 6) [ [34]]. Other studies of the effect of saline on bio-aerosols, listed in Table 1 [[35]-, [36], [37]], have generated similar results with other viruses or lung particles, con rming a reduction bio-aerosols.…”