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Invisible Threat: Ultrafine Particles Poisoning Us
2 Jan
Summary
- Ultrafine particles smaller than 2.5 microns pose significant health risks.
- Lidia Morawska advocated for airborne COVID-19 transmission recognition.
- WHO and EU now recognize ultrafine particles as a serious threat.
Aerosol scientist Lidia Morawska has spent 35 years researching ultrafine particles (UFPs), pollutants far smaller than those typically monitored. These invisible particles, including soot and metals, can infiltrate the lungs and bloodstream, leading to inflammation and serious diseases. Morawska's pivotal work influenced the World Health Organization's (WHO) acknowledgment of airborne COVID-19 transmission, a crucial shift from focusing solely on surface contamination.
Her advocacy, particularly regarding the airborne nature of viruses, faced significant initial resistance. It took extensive efforts, including an open letter from 240 scientists, for WHO to officially incorporate airborne transmission into its advisories in July 2020. This delay, Morawska notes, had fatal consequences for many. She was later recognized among Time magazine's 100 most influential people.
