Understanding the Health Effects of Components of the Particulate Matter Mix: Progress and Next Steps

Perspectives 2 is the second of a series produced by the HEI Health Review Committee to integrate findings across several HEI studies or entire research programs. The intent is to describe and interpret results bearing on important and timely issues for a broad audience interested in environmental health. Perspectives 2 focuses on recent epidemiologic studies and studies of controlled exposure to PM in humans and other species that have begun to provide information about critical issues in PM research: [A] the size and chemical composition of particles that may cause harmful human health effects, [B] the potential biologic mechanisms of PM effects that underlie the epidemiologic associations previosuly reported, and [C] the groups of people that may be particularly sensitive to the effects of PM.