Question
Beijing always has this kind of smog during the autumn and winter, it’s so severe that the sky is gray and hazy all day. I have the habit of sticking to outdoor exercise every day, but I’m worried that PM2.5 will lead me to develop upper respiratory diseases.
Answer
The composition of smog is very complex, including hundreds of types of atmospheric chemical particles. The main harmful components to health are the aerosol particles with diameters less than 10 micrometers, which can directly enter and adhere to the human respiratory tract and alveoli. Long-term exposure to this environment may trigger lung cancer. For patients with chronic respiratory diseases such as asthma, chronic bronchitis, obstructive pulmonary emphysema, and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, smoggy weather can cause acute exacerbation or acute worsening of the condition.