Environmental Protection and Health

PM2.5 Impact on Human Health

The suspended particulate matters contained in the atmosphere may enter into human body through nose and throat. While the particles bigger than 10μm are removed by nasal cavities, the particles smaller than 10pm can still enter into the human body through trachea and bronchus. The varying degrees of damage to human body mostly depend on particle sizes and associated chemical properties.

Moro and more epidemiological studies reveal that PM2.5 easily adheres to harmful substances, such as dioxins, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) and heavy metal. A long-term inhalation may also lead to allergy, asthma, emphysema of lung and cardiovascular disease (CVD). Whether it is short-term or long-term exposure in a high density PM2.5 environment, the risk of respiratory diseases or even death definitely increases, especially for sensitive persons.

Different Particle Sizes And Distributing

Positions Affecting Respiratory System

>10μm

Distributing Position: Deposit at the nasal pharynx

Influence: Easy to cause allergic rhinitis, resulting in diseases such as cough and asthma.

2.5-10μm

Distributing Position: Deposit at the upper nasal cavity and deep respiratory tracts.

Influence: It may cause fibrillary paralysis. bronchial mucus membrane over secretion and cryptate mucosae proliferation that lead to reversible bronchial spasm, suppress deep breath and spread to small bronchus.

<2.5μm

Distributing position: Less than 10% of deposit at the bronchus and about 20~30% of deposit at the pulmonary alveolus.

Influence: it may cause various diseases, such as chronic bronchitis. bronchiectasis. pulmonary edema or bronchus fibrosis.

<0.1μm

Distributing Position: Deposit in the pulmonary alveolus tissues.

Influence: It may cause macrophage in the lung. which result m pulmonary emphysema and pulmonary alveolus destruction.

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