How PM2.5 in haze affects the human body
PM2.5 micro-pollutants are 30 times smaller than the width of a strand of hair.
The haze in Singapore, resulting from Indonesian forest fires, is laden with PM2.5 micro-pollutants that are 30 times smaller than a strand of hair. These particles are too small to be seen by the naked eye and can penetrate deep into the respiratory system and bloodstream. The health impacts of PM2.5 are far-reaching, affecting the respiratory system, brain, gut, heart, nervous system, and skin.
Respiratory inflammation and damage are immediate consequences of inhaling PM2.5. Symptoms include chronic coughing, shortness of breath, and coughing up blood or blood-streaked mucus. Long-term exposure exacerbates damage to the lungs' smallest air sacs (alveoli), leading to structural, inflammatory, and functional damage. The pollutants also infiltrate the bloodstream and nasal nerve endings, causing brain inflammation, injury to brain cells, oxidative stress, and damage to the blood-brain barrier. This triggers cognitive decline, memory loss, brain fog, and fatigue.
The gut microbiome disruption caused by PM2.5 results in inflammation and gastrointestinal issues, sending inflammatory signals to the brain. This contributes to mental health issues such as anxiety and brain fog. The particles' effect on the cardiovascular system is equally concerning. They enter the lungs, enter the bloodstream, and trigger systemic damage, potentially leading to heart attacks, stroke, heart failure, high blood pressure, and dangerous heart rhythms.
Additionally, PM2.5 increases the stickiness of blood platelets, causing them to form clots that can block blood flow to the heart or brain, resulting in a heart attack or ischaemic stroke.
Nerve receptors in the lungs are also irritated by PM2.5, affecting the nervous system's control over heart rate and rhythm. Short-term spikes in PM2.5 can trigger plaque ruptures and sudden cardiac events, including heart attacks and heart failure. Long-term exposure accelerates the buildup of fatty plaques in arteries, narrowing blood vessels and raising blood pressure.
The particles settle on the skin, collect in pores, alter critical barrier lipids, causing dryness, dehydration, and heightened skin sensitivity. This inflammation and irritation can also affect the eyelids, conjunctiva, and cornea, exacerbating eye inflammation, damaging the tear film, and leading to various eye conditions, including dry eyes, burning sensation, redness, conjunctivitis, itching, excessive tearing, and impaired vision.
The inflammation can extend to the eyelids, causing redness, heavy secretions, plugged gland ducts, and discomfort for contact lens wearers on poor air quality days.
Written by urgent.news from Straits Times's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
