Toxic E coli

What does toxic E coli have to do with cadmium air pollution?

The latest outbreak in Hamberg, Germany is in a very cadmium polluted area. It was strange that the authorities initially accused Spanish cucumbers and then correctly withdrew that accusation. The shiga toxigenic E coli (which you can google for an excellent review) is associated with dairy and cattle that are fed grains rather than grass. There was a problem in the Pacific Northwest in the 1980's with tainted hamberger meat and then later in California with leafy vegetables that were close to a commercial polluting dairy farm.

The US Dept of agriculture wants to make sure that every small farm tests its produce for this e coli before bringing it to market rather than requiring the big polluting dairy, cattle, and pig establishments to check feces for the bacteria which would make more sense.

In Ohio, Gov. Kasich wants to cut the budget for organic farming which is really protecting us from Shiga toxigenic e coli.

Pathogenic e coli are generally cadmium resistant and cadmium may play a role in making toxins more toxic in the host. Indivudals who eat a nutrient dense diet, with plenty of fiber, good probitoics, who sleep well and exercise and keep their stress level down can be expected to fare best if exposed.

Vit C in high doses makes Staphyloccocus lose its plasmids, a special part of bacteria assoicated with virulence. It might have that effect on E coli with plasmids, like the the shiga toxigenic e coli.

A worthwhile study would be to see if rinsing produce with vit C water got rid of plasmid containing bacteria.

Sick patients with hemoplytic uremic syndrome should be checked for effects of cadmium. The target organ of cadmium can be considered the blood vessel.