How Particle size relates to resiratory system

A major component of occupational health and safety that if often overlooked is air pollution, primarily air particles that you unknowingly inhale in. the lungs are a complex organ with approximately 1500 miles of airwaves and 300 to 500 alveoli. These alveoli are located at the ends of the respiratory tree. These alveoli are responsible for gas exchanges in the body and are essential to oxygenate the blood. When there is air pollution these particles can become trapped in these sacks causing them to form scar tissue and causing it to become ever harder to preform their function. The smaller the particle is the harder it is to get rid of. This is because the smaller particles can travel farther unto the lung. The bigger particles can be coughed or sneezed out of your lungs. However, these natural ways to dispel foreign objects from your body don’t work for smaller particulates. Not only do you have to worry about inhaling solid matter but also water particles that are suspended in the air. This can cause diseases such as pneumonia, which can cause death. The people that are most at risk are mainly ones the work in conditions that produce a lot of dust, such as minors, or factories that produce a lot of sawdust just to name a few scenarios where people would be exposed to high levels of pollution. This being said workers are not the only ones that are at risk. Children are at risk as well as the elderly population. Side effects from inhaling particles can range widely. Some of them include life expectancy to be shortened by up to three years. Other side effects include lung cancer and low birth weights in women who are pregnant. One  side effect that is lesser known is the increased risk of cardiovascular disease and heart attack.