5. How exposure to Particulate Matter
Special groups of people are more susceptible to suffer health effects due to ambient particulate matter.
5.1 Elderly people
5.2 Children
5.3 People with a pre-existing heart and lung disease, asthmatics
5.4 Socially disadvantaged and poorly educated populations.
Several epidemiological studies have linked both PM10 and specially PM2.5 with significant health problems, including:
1. Premature mortality
2. Chronic respiratory disease
3. Respiratory emergency room visits and hospital admissions,
4. Aggravated asthma,
5. Decreased lung function.
1. Long-term exposure to current ambient particulate matter concentrations may affect the lungs of both children and adults and may reduce life expectancy by a few months, mainly in subjects with pre-existing heart and lung diseases.
2. Ambient particulate matter is responsible for harmful effects on health, even in the absence of other air pollutants. Both fine and coarse particles have been shown to affect health, in particular the respiratory system.