Human lung parenchyma retains PM_2.5

摘要

There is extensive epidemiologic evidence that increased levels of the inhalable particulate fraction of air pollution (PM_10) are associated with increased morbidity and mortality. The mechanisms of these effects are unknown, and the exact types and sizes of particles responsible are a matter of intense dispute. To obtain an idea of the sizes of particles retained in human lung parenchyma, we used ana- lytical electron microscopy to count, size, and identify particles in the upper lobe apical seqment pa- renchyma of autopsy lung tissue from 10 never-smoking long-term residents of Vancouver.