By Ben Harder
A gram of small, air-polluting particles has deadlier effects in certain seasons and regions of the country than in others, new research shows. Furthermore, particulate pollutants and ozone seem to most readily affect people who already have cardiovascular problems.
Many studies have shown that minute particles in air pollution have harmful effects over exposure periods both short (SN: 8/2/03, p. 72: http://sciencenews.org/articles/20030802/bob8.asp) and long (SN: 9/11/04, p. 163: http://sciencenews.org/articles/20040911/fob1.asp). Since air pollution consists of many types of particles as well as of various gases, researchers are investigating which pollutants are worst and whom they are most likely to hurt.