Dust can kill (editorial)
Days after the loading and unloading of coal at Berths 10 and 11 at the Mormugao Port was stopped by a series of agitations, the Goa Pollution Control Board has shown that both the suspended particulate matter (SPM) and the respirable suspended particulate matter (RSPM) in the area are much higher than the permissible limits. The RSPM, which can cause major health disorders, is over 60 per cent higher than the limit. Respirable suspended particulate matter (dust) is defined as particles 10 micrometres in size or smaller (PM10), which can settle in the lungs, causing serious health problems like asthma, lung cancer and heart disease. A study published in the Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA) says particles smaller than 2.5 micrometres (PM2.5) can penetrate the gas-exchange areas of the lungs, and cause high plaque deposits in arteries, vascular inflammation and atherosclerosis, leading to heart disease. This happens even with short-term exposure at higher concentrations The very smallest particles