Health
About Cardiovascular Diseases:
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About Respiratory Diseases:
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** Remember! Never try to self diagnose! If you are worried, talk to a doctor!**
What is PMx?
The PM stands for particulate matter. The x means that the particle is has a diameter of x micrometers.
Particulate matter are particles suspended in air like diesel exhaust, ash, dust, soot, aerosol, smoke, and more.
PMx can come from power plants, burning wood, and most importantly motor vehicles.
The PM stands for particulate matter. The x means that the particle is has a diameter of x micrometers.
Particulate matter are particles suspended in air like diesel exhaust, ash, dust, soot, aerosol, smoke, and more.
PMx can come from power plants, burning wood, and most importantly motor vehicles.
The number on the left of each line, would be the "x" in PMx. The lines are based off of the (number of pixels)*10. To put things more into perspective, PM70 would be an average human hair.
Any particulate matter smaller than PM2.5 is called fine, and any particulate matter greater than or equal to PM2.5 is called coarse.
For size reference:
Diseases and PMx:
The people at most risk are active children and elderly people.
Short-term exposure to PM2.5 increases the risk for hospital admission for cardiovascular and respiratory diseases.
Particles smaller than PM10 are the biggest problem because they don't just settle in the lungs, they can also enter the blood stream.
Cardiovascular:
Although the two are not commonly related, diesel exhausts can cause cardiovascular diseases.This is because 90% of diesel exhaust is made up of fine particles. Also, any fine particle and PM2.5 is able to pass through the lungs and enter the bloodstream.
In fact, after a study it was found that after a healthy individual was exposed to diesel exhaust for around a day, the capacity of their blood vessels to expand was changed, they were not able to expand as well. There was also inflammation. This affects the capacity of the blood to coagulate (clot). Also, there is a lowered capacity of blood clots being dissolved, meaning that there would be more blood clotting occurring within the body. This can lead to heart attacks or strokes. Also, it was found that the individuals had a shortage of oxygen in their heart tissues.
In basic terms, after only 24 hours the functioning of blood vessels quickly deteriorates.
Another study was done on men with cardiovascular disease who were exercising. They closely monitored the men for two days. On the first day, they had the men exercise on a stationary bike in a room with clean air, and on the second day, they monitored the men exercise on a stationary bike in a room with diesel exhaust and other chemicals. It was found that on the second day, the men's hearts were more stressed and created less clot reducing chemicals within their bodies.
Respiratory:
PM10 are particles small enough to enter the respiratory system and build up in the lungs.
In a study focused on looking at deaths relating to air pollution in Meuse Valley, Belgium and Donora, Pennsylvania. What was odd was that a similar phenomenon was occurring in these two different places. When they looked at the causes of death, the majority of deaths were caused by respiratory and cardiovascular diseases. The study says that prolonged exposure to PM10 can decrease the ability of the lung to function.
Also, according to other studies, there has been a connection between having lung cancer and working on the railroad or as a truck driver. This is due to the diesel exhaust. This is because diesel contains hundreds of toxic chemicals like benzene, arsenic, lead, and cyanide. Not only that, the fine particles enter the lung tissue where they settle in the lungs itself or the lymph nodes.
Diesel exhaust is dangerous to people with asthma too. It promotes allergic reactions and airway constrictions. This can be seen on the northern east coast. There is lots of diesel exhaust in those areas and it has some of the highest asthma rates in the United States. Also, on highly polluted days, there is a 40% higher chance that a asthmatic child will have an attack.
Any particulate matter smaller than PM2.5 is called fine, and any particulate matter greater than or equal to PM2.5 is called coarse.
For size reference:
Diseases and PMx:
The people at most risk are active children and elderly people.
Short-term exposure to PM2.5 increases the risk for hospital admission for cardiovascular and respiratory diseases.
Particles smaller than PM10 are the biggest problem because they don't just settle in the lungs, they can also enter the blood stream.
Cardiovascular:
Although the two are not commonly related, diesel exhausts can cause cardiovascular diseases.This is because 90% of diesel exhaust is made up of fine particles. Also, any fine particle and PM2.5 is able to pass through the lungs and enter the bloodstream.
In fact, after a study it was found that after a healthy individual was exposed to diesel exhaust for around a day, the capacity of their blood vessels to expand was changed, they were not able to expand as well. There was also inflammation. This affects the capacity of the blood to coagulate (clot). Also, there is a lowered capacity of blood clots being dissolved, meaning that there would be more blood clotting occurring within the body. This can lead to heart attacks or strokes. Also, it was found that the individuals had a shortage of oxygen in their heart tissues.
In basic terms, after only 24 hours the functioning of blood vessels quickly deteriorates.
Another study was done on men with cardiovascular disease who were exercising. They closely monitored the men for two days. On the first day, they had the men exercise on a stationary bike in a room with clean air, and on the second day, they monitored the men exercise on a stationary bike in a room with diesel exhaust and other chemicals. It was found that on the second day, the men's hearts were more stressed and created less clot reducing chemicals within their bodies.
Respiratory:
PM10 are particles small enough to enter the respiratory system and build up in the lungs.
In a study focused on looking at deaths relating to air pollution in Meuse Valley, Belgium and Donora, Pennsylvania. What was odd was that a similar phenomenon was occurring in these two different places. When they looked at the causes of death, the majority of deaths were caused by respiratory and cardiovascular diseases. The study says that prolonged exposure to PM10 can decrease the ability of the lung to function.
Also, according to other studies, there has been a connection between having lung cancer and working on the railroad or as a truck driver. This is due to the diesel exhaust. This is because diesel contains hundreds of toxic chemicals like benzene, arsenic, lead, and cyanide. Not only that, the fine particles enter the lung tissue where they settle in the lungs itself or the lymph nodes.
Diesel exhaust is dangerous to people with asthma too. It promotes allergic reactions and airway constrictions. This can be seen on the northern east coast. There is lots of diesel exhaust in those areas and it has some of the highest asthma rates in the United States. Also, on highly polluted days, there is a 40% higher chance that a asthmatic child will have an attack.