As a result of fossil fuel and biomass combustion in sectors such as transportation, residential buildings, coal-fired power plants, industrial activities and forest fires, PM2.5 is responsible for 90% of air pollution-related deaths worldwide , or 7.8 million people. Because of their diameter of less than 2.5 microns, these particles can settle in the lungs and reach the bloodstream, affecting organs and metabolism and increasing the risk of non-communicable diseases in adults, such as heart disease, stroke, diabetes, lung cancer. diseases and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD).
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With regard to ozone, long-term exposure to this gas has caused about 489,518 deaths worldwide . Ozone is not emitted directly into the air; The burning of fossil fuels in vehicles, power plants, factories, homes, and industrial activities (e.g., oil and gas extraction and refining) produce chemical precursors that lead to the formation of ozone in the presence of sunlight. Thus, global warming is producing more and more ozone in areas with higher levels of NO2 and light, such as the megacities of large cities.
