Damage to health caused by fine dust particles
The effect of Particulate Matter (PM), PM10 and PM2.5, on humans has been investigated and highlighted in countless studies (over 70,000), including studies conducted by the World Health Organization (WHO) and the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).
PM triggers stress and inflammation in human cells, which in turn leads to a variety of diseases.
Damage to health caused by fine dust particles
- Respiratory diseases, including asthma, reduced lung development, bronchitis and lung cancer
- Cardiovascular diseases, including arteriosclerosis, high blood pressure, blood clotting and cardiac arrhythmia
- Metabolic diseases, including type 2 diabetes mellitus
- Diseases of the nervous system, including dementia
- Increased mortality
Children are particularly affected. This is because they breathe in more air than adults in relation to their size. The damage caused by PM can affect their entire lives.
Older people and those with damaged airways or chronic illnesses are also at greater risk from PM.
Studies by the WHO have shown that all types of PM are harmful to human health, even if the limit values are below the recommended guidelines. The truth is that there is no safe limit for PM10 or for PM2.5.
Put simply, air pollution is the greatest environmental threat to human health.