Question

When fossil fuels are burned, "particulate matter" including some small particles referred and to PM2.5s and even smaller particles can be produced. There was a recently published study showing how these small particles get into the bloodstream and "lodge" in small blood vessels in the head and neck. (a) What would you anticipate happening? To get you thinking in the right direction, the textbook discusses plaques and thrombus formation on pg. 698-9 (ed. 2). (b) If this affects blood vessels bringing blood to the heart, the person suffers from _____ due to decreased blood flow to the heart tissue, _____ this could lead to a person having a _____. If the blood vessels in the head are blocked the person suffers from a _____ (this term is not mentioned in our textbook but you likely have heard this term used) (c) What kind of symptoms might occur if a blood vessel in the brain is blocked and oxygen does not get to that portion of the brain? There are a number of possible answers to this last question. The PM2.5 particulates mentioned above do also accumulate in the lungs. Additionally, in burning fossil fuels, there are chemicals released such as volatile organic compounds that can lead to the formation of when the chemicals interact with sunlight (associated with smog). Both the PM2.5s and the ground-level ozone serve as lung irritants thereby causing asthma, especially in those individuals who are already susceptible (see 795 and 815). On p. 815, the book mentions that asthma allergy Additionally, with the changes in plant growth seasons potentially due to GCC, there might be changes in the amounts of plant pollen and mold spores in the air increasing the incidence of allergic rhinitis in susceptible individuals. Allergies stimulated by mold spores, etc. can make asthma worse. (a) This is a type of allergy (see p. 775) which can be referred to as a _____ reaction which is restricted to body surface. (b) If an allergen enters the bloodstream, it can lead to more life-threatening a condition _____ (c) These responses can lead to a drop in blood pressure which can lead to _____.

Answer 1

Thanks for the question.

If this effects blood vessels bringing blood to the heart, the person suffers from a hypoxia due to decrease blood supply to heart tissue, myocardial ischemia this could lead to a person having a heart attack. If blood vessels in the head are blocked the person suffers from a stroke.

thanks