What structural change can chronic exposure to particulate pollution cause in otherwise healthy lungs?
Answer
Scarring or permanent structural changes over time
The respiratory system reacts intensely to the presence of inhaled particulates, leading to inflammation as the immune system attempts to clear the foreign substances. While short-term exposure can cause acute symptoms like coughing and shortness of breath, repeated, long-term contact with high levels of PM pollution causes cumulative damage. This persistent irritation does not resolve cleanly; instead, the continuous inflammatory response over many years can lead to permanent physical alterations within the lung structure, resulting in scarring or other irreversible structural changes in individuals who were initially healthy.
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