Particulate Matter
This type of particulate matter has a diameter smaller than 2.5 micrometers and is strongly linked to cardiovascular and respiratory disease.
What is PM2.5?
Air pollution commonly affects this system first.
What is the respiratory system?
Ambient air pollution causes over this many million premature deaths annually worldwide.
What is 4 million?
This is the ability of particulate matter to generate reactive oxygen species (ROS)
What is oxidative potential?
These ultrafine particles can not only reach the lungs but also transfer into the bloodstream and reach organs like the brain and liver.
What are PM0.1 or ultrafine particles?
Long-term exposure to air pollution can increase the risk of this disease group.
What are cardiovascular diseases?
This country accounts for 30% of total mortality from air pollution globally.
What is China?
These are the 2 atmospheric components mainly responsible for mortality.
What are PM2.5 and ozone (O₃) ?
These airborne biological particles originate from the biosphere and include bacteria, pollen, and fungal spores.
What are bioaerosols?
This is how many times higher the impact of PM2.5 on mortality compared to ozone (O₃) is.
What is 20 times higher?
This region has the highest per-capita mortality rate from air pollution exposure.
What is Eastern Europe (non-EU)?
This key mechanism results from an imbalance between reactive oxygen species production and the body's ability to detoxify them.
What is oxidative stress?
These organic compounds in particulate matter include known carcinogens that damage DNA
What are polycyclic aromatic compounds (PACs)?
These highly reactive molecules include superoxide, hydrogen peroxide, and hydroxyl radicals.
What are Reactive Oxygen Species (ROS)?
This limitation exists because most exposure–response functions are based on data from Western regions.
What is geographic bias?
This is the annual PM2.5 level recommended by the WHO to maintain air quality.
What is below 10 µg/m³?
These are polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons modified with nitro groups, often increasing mutagenicity
What are nitro-PAHs?
These stable, combustion-derived radicals can persist for more than a day and promote oxidative stress.
What are environmentally persistent free radicals (EPFRs)?
One major challenge in estimating global health impacts is limited data from these regions.
What are Asia and Africa?
This is the fluid that covers the lungs and protects the respiratory tract.
What is epithelial lining fluid (ELF) ?