Children with asthma may be especially sensitive to particulate matter air pollution because their airways are narrower, the Finnish researchers suggest. Particulate matter pollution is a mixture of airborne particles of various sizes and composition, including soot, ashes, dust and acid droplets. The very smallest particles, primarily those from industrial sources, can be inhaled deeply into the lungs where they can be absorbed into the bloodstream or remain lodged for extended periods of time. It is these fine particles that are most damaging to health. Previous studies have shown that exposure to particulate matter can cause coughing, wheezing and decreased breathing ability in otherwise healthy adults and children.
Particulate pollution can trigger asthma attacks and respiratory illness in sensitive individuals.
Recent research also has linked exposure to relatively low concentrations of particulate matter to premature death, especially among the elderly and those with heart and lung disease. This study provides an additional piece of evidence that particulate matter exposure aggravates asthma in children. He noted that some critics of the new air quality standards have focused on the number of deaths caused by air pollution, but that this study focuses on illness caused by pollution. K.L. Timonen and J. Pekkanen. The American Lung Association fights lung disease.