I lived in LA for 20 years (moved about 2 years ago -- hope I didn't sell you my condo!) -- and was right by LAX with a view of departing planes over the ocean, right from my balcony. Never had any health issues, still have all of my hair.

My mother was just diagnosed with dementia, and her mother had it before she died. Despite my "anecdata", I am keeping a close eye on these sort of findings, to see if my brain is going to go the same way. I've certainly had a higher pollution load in my life to date than either of them. :/

Are you sure it's an autoimmune disease? For me when I went to uninhabited islands for example, the symptoms of my illness went away completely.

I believe the problem is that my body is not able to metabolize the toxic air molecules that gets to my bloodstream through my lungs.

It was diagnosed autoimmune. I have pictures of white blood cells attacking my hair follicles.

How do you go to an inhabited island for a prolonged period of time? Any anecdotes?

Where in LA do you live? LAX spews pollution due east all summer, and south all winter when the winds switch. The valleys get terrible pollution from agriculture as well.

What kind of pollution from agriculture? Tractor / other farm machinery emissions? Burning agricultural waste like stubble, dry leaves/stalks, etc.?

Personal data point. Used to be I had to cut my hair because of split ends. I stopped getting split ends when I moved out of San Jose.