Even small amounts of inhaled fine dust can overload the body's defenses and lead to organ damage.

This is shown by a study by researchers at the Max Planck Institute for Chemistry in Mainz.

Together with colleagues from California, they studied the effects of tiny dust grains on chemical processes in the lungs.

Small amounts of hydrogen peroxide are produced there.

Usually it is mostly converted into harmless molecules like water by the body's own enzymes.

Fine dust, however, competes with the enzymes and leads to the formation of aggressive hydroxyl radicals from hydrogen peroxide.

These compounds damage the lung tissue.

The researchers therefore believe it is right that the World Health Organization has lowered the guide value for fine dust particles smaller than 2.5 micrometers from ten to five micrograms per cubic meter of air.

The link to the study