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. 2021 Sep 24;129(9):095001. doi: 10.1289/EHP9321

Figure 3.

Figure 3 is a scientific illustration that has five steps. Step 1: Inhalation, fine particulate matter pointing toward the illustration of a human head and lungs. The lungs depict the main bronchi, bronchi, bronchioles, alveolar sacs, and alveolar capillaries. The response in the lungs depicts Hydrogen peroxide, Hydroxide, Peroxynitrite, reactive oxygen species, neutrophils, and macrophages, which induces oxidative stress and causes inflammation which leads to blood vessels. Step 2: Blood Vessels. The response in systemic circulation depicts Hydrogen peroxide, Hydroxide, Peroxynitrite, reactive oxygen species, interleukin-1 lowercase beta with an arrow pointing up, interleukin-6 with an arrow pointing up, tumor necrosis factor lowercase alpha with an arrow pointing up, and monocytes, neutrophils, C-reactive protein with an arrow pointing up, key characteristic 10 causes inflammation. Step 3: Inhalation leads to the Central nervous system with an icon of a brain with key characteristic 9 modifies autonomic nervous system activity to heart and vasculature, secondary to sensory nerve activation in the lung. Step 4: Blood Vessels and Central nervous system lead to key characteristic 12 alters hormone signaling, including hypothalamic pituitary adrenal axis, hypothalamic pituitary thyroid axis, renin-angiotensin system, and insulin and glucose homeostasis, vasodilation, where key characteristic 5 impacts endothelial and vascular function, impaired artery, normal artery, causes dyslipidemia, low-density lipoprotein with an arrow pointing up, high-density lipoprotein with an arrow pointing up, triglycerides with an arrow pointing up, and key characteristic 6 alters hemostasis, platelets with an arrow pointing up, von Willebrand factor with an arrow pointing up, and fibrinogen with an arrow pointing up. Step 5: Step 4 leads to modifies autonomic nervous system activity with an image of a heart, with modified autonomic nervous system activity to heart and vasculature. The following information is given: Clinical outcomes are ischemic heart disease, stroke, and heart failure.

Key characteristics (KCs) associated with PM2.5 toxicity. A summary of how different KCs of fine particulate air pollution (PM2.5) could affect the heart and the vasculature. Some of the detailed mechanisms are given, as well as some clinical end points. Note: H2O2, hydrogen peroxide; OH•, hydroxide; O2•−, reactive oxygen species; ONOO–, peroxynitrite; PM2.5, particulate matter ≤2.5μm in aerodynamic diameter (fine particulate matter).