Ultrafine Particles in Ambient Air: Health Implications
Ultrafine particles (UFP) in ambient air pose significant health risks, infiltrating deep into the lungs and carrying toxins due to their high numbers and small diameter. Sources of UFP include traffic emissions, heating systems, and industrial exhausts, with potential toxicity influenced by other pollutants in the air. Understanding the characteristics and compounds of UFP is crucial for addressing the impact on genetic material, inflammation, and respiratory health.
Download Presentation
Please find below an Image/Link to download the presentation.
The content on the website is provided AS IS for your information and personal use only. It may not be sold, licensed, or shared on other websites without obtaining consent from the author.If you encounter any issues during the download, it is possible that the publisher has removed the file from their server.
You are allowed to download the files provided on this website for personal or commercial use, subject to the condition that they are used lawfully. All files are the property of their respective owners.
The content on the website is provided AS IS for your information and personal use only. It may not be sold, licensed, or shared on other websites without obtaining consent from the author.
E N D
Presentation Transcript
ULTRAFINE PARTICLES IN AMBIENT AIR AND HEALTH Ivan Er en, Peter Otorepec, Vesna Lesjak
MAIN AIRBORNE POLLUTANTS Fine particles Ozone Nitrogen oxides Carbon monoxide Benzene
DEFINITION OF AIRBORNE PARTICLES Large particles bigger than 10 m Fine particles nose, pharynx 5 10 m windpipe smaller than 10 m bronchi 2 3 m Ultrafine particles small bronchial tubes 1 2 m smaller than 0,1 m alveolus 0.1 1 m
SOME PARTICLE COMPOUNDS metals (iron, copper) damage to genetic material, inflammation organic solvents damage to genetic material, carcinogenic biological material (viruses, plant parts) inflammation, allergies reactive gases (ozone) tissue damamges the main components of most particles ist carbon, and various pollutants added to it irritation, chronic inflammation, changes in chemical bonding, pulmonary fibrosis
DEFINITION OF ULTRAFINE PARTICLES (UFP- Ultra Fine Particles) UFP are extremly small particles with na aerodinamic diameter of 0.1 micrometers or less As regards to numbers they are the biggest fraction of fine particles As regards mass they represent a very small part of all fine particles Their spatial arrangement is probably differnet as is the case for bigger particles
CHARACTERISTICS OF UFP UFP inflitrate deeper into the lungs as other particles Due to their high numbers and small diameter UFP have a high total area, which carries many toxins They are potentially more toxic than other particles
SOURCES OF UFP UFP in ambient air are formed from gasses or they develop at combustion processes Important sources are: traffic (exhaust gases, braking, tyres) heating systems (residues of wood) industrial exhausts The toxicity of UFP depends on other pollutants in the air and they are attaching to theses particles
IMPACT OF UFP ON HEALTH As research shows UFP have more explicit health impacts as other particles The mode of their impact is highly complex: oxidative stress (inflammation) activation of the autonomic nervous system direct effect on internal organs (heart, brains, liver, bone marrow) transition to the brains via olfactory bulbs
IMPACTS OF FINE PARTICLES ON HEALTH Lungs: Oxidative stress Inflammation Development of a chronic obstructive pulmonary disease-COPB Decrease in lung functions
IMPACTS OF FINE PARTICLES ON HEALTH Heart: Oxidative stress Impaired functions of the autonomic nervous system (vagus) Increased sensitivity of the heart muscle Disturbed heart conductivity
IMPACTS OF FINE PARTICLES ON HEALTH Blood: Increased blood clotting Particles travelling through body Blood clots in peripheral body parts Reduced oxygen transport
HEALTH IMPACTS OF FINE PARTICLES Blood vessels: Atherosclerosis, acceleratd formation and decomposition of plaque on the inside of blood vessels Lesions of the the endothelium of blood vessels Cramps of blood vessels and increased blood pressure poorer circulation of the central nervous system stroke
CHALLENGES CONCERNING UFP Measuring the occurrence of these particles in ambient air Evaluating spatial distribution of UFP Studying the mechanisms for developoment of illnesses and Measuring consequences on human health
UFIREG EU project The project is aimed as a support for the formation of an environmental policy in Europe (Clean Air Plan for Europe) The general intention of the project is raising awareness in public on the need to adopt provisions on the basis of scientific evidence and to protect people s health
UFIREG EU project The goal of the project is to define the state of ambient air pollution with ultrafine particles (UFP) and to examine, if exposure to these particles provokes health consequences
UFIREG EU project Operation method MEASUREMENTS: measurements of UFP on 5 locations establishing the numeric and mass concentration
UFIREG EU project OPERATIONAL METHOD RESEARCHING HEALTH IMPACTS: monitoring of the general mortality rate and mortality due to cardiovascular and respiratory diseases monitoring of hospitalisations due to cardiovascular and respiratory diseases Additional in Slovenia: monitoring of outpatient visits due to cardiovascular and respiratory diseases
UFIREG EU project OPERATIONAL METHOD RESEARCHING HEALTH IMPACTS: Defining more sensitive groups as regards to age or gender
UFIREG EU project AIM RESEARCHING HEALTH IMPACTS: Establishing whether changes in daily mortality rates and hospitalisations are connected with changes in numbers and concentration of UFP on the same or previous days Studying whether the influence of UFP is irrelevant to other airborne pollutants especially PM10 and PM2.5 Additional in Slovenia: Reviewing, if changes of outpatient visits due to cardio vascular and respiratory diseases are linked with changes in numbers and concentration of UFP on the same or previous days
UFIREG EU project BASIC ASSUMPTIONS UFP are connected with admittance to hospitals and with mortality due to cardiovascular and respiratory diseases The connection is linear The connection of UFP is independent of PM effects Additional in Slovenia: UFP are linked with outpatient visits due to cardiovascular and respiratory diseases
