What is PM2.5?
PM (Particulate Matter) 2.5 is 30 times thinner than a human hair and can be inhaled deeply into lung tissue and contribute to serious health problems.These particles come in many different forms and chemicals. Some are emitted directly from places like construction sites or fires. Most particles form from reactions of chemicals such as sulfur dioxide and nitrogen oxides, which are pollutants emitted from many different sources, one of them being manufacturing.
Health Effects
PM 2.5 accounts for most health effects due to air pollution in the U.S. Fine particulate matter can impair blood vessel function and speed up calcification in arteries. Short-term exposures (up to 24-hours duration) have been associated with premature mortality, increased hospital admissions for heart and lung causes, acute and chronic bronchitis, asthma attacks, emergency room visits, respiratory symptoms, and restricted activity days. Also, children and infants are susceptible to harm from inhaling pollutants such as PM because they inhale more air per pound of body weight than do adults - they breathe faster, spend more time outdoors and have smaller body sizes. In addition, children’s less matured immune systems may cause them to be more susceptible to PM than healthy adults.
The graph is a representation of the rate of deaths caused by air pollution in each country. A darker, reddish color means that there is a higher number of deaths caused by pollution in that country. The data clearly shows that there is a positive correlation between a higher level of manufacturing and the amount of deaths caused by pollution. This visualization helped us to decide to focus on Asia because it is one of the most problematic continents regarding pollution and air quality.