International Standards

Are Smaller or Larger Particles More Harmful to Health?

"Size" is a very important factor when considering the potential harm caused by particles in the air. When you inhale, you take in air and any particles that are in the air. The breath, along with the particles, travel through your respiratory system to your lungs.

Along the way, particles can become caught in your nasal or sinus system, causing discomfort or potential health problems. As a defense, the body produces mucus to trap particles. There are also tiny hairs that grab unwanted pollutants.

However, the smallest of airborne particles are often able to beat these defenses and make it all the way through to the alveolar, which is the deepest part of the lun