But charges have been dismissed against four of the 11 defendants who were accused in Delaware County. Particles apparently can alter rhythms in weak or diseased hearts, even at levels common in L.A., other cities. Even moderate air pollution routinely found in many U.S. cities may trigger sudden deaths by changing heart rhythms in people with existing cardiac problems, according to extensive new scientific research. The finding, backed by more than a dozen studies on humans and animals, suggests that heart attacks, not lung disease, may be the most serious medical threat posed by air pollution. The culprits appear to be tiny pieces of soot called particulates.
More research is underway.
At least that's the scheme that Motorola Corp. is backing in conjunction with Los Alamos National Laboratory in New Mexico. They are working to miniaturize fuel cells to power wireless phones in place of batteries. Fuel cells work something like batteries with a fuel tank. They convert chemicals to electricity, much as batteries do, but instead of needing to be plugged for hours to recharge when they run flat, fuel cells perk up as soon as you feed them more chemicals. In Motorola's vision, the fuel cells would run on alcohol mixed with water and oxygen from the air.