Ozone causes our skin to emit tiny airborne particles

(Image: Pixabay CC0) - An international research team including scientists has found that whenever we encounter ozone, it reacts with lipids in our skin to create nanoparticles. Air pollution is responsible for seven million of premature deaths around the world every year, according to the World Health Organization. That's roughly the same number of people who die from smoking or malnutrition. The damaging effects of air pollution are caused mainly by the small airborne particles produced from traffic and coal-fired plants, or through chemical reactions with compounds in the atmosphere. In indoor environments, the smallest particles (so called nanocluster aerosols), can result from cooking, burning candles, 3D printing and - as the research team in question has found - humans - simply being exposed to ozone. In their study, the scientists discovered that our very own bodies can be a source of nanocluster aerosol emissions in places where the indoor air contains ozone. That human beings emit particles - through our skin, clothing and respiratory activities (e.g., coughing, sneezing or breathing) - was already known.