Britannica
Sources used in this answer
How can tobacco smoke and cooking-stove fires expose people to harmful nanoparticles?
Created from Britannica articles
using AI.
AI can make mistakes, so verify using Britannica articles.
nanoparticle
Image showing nanoparticles of an alloy of gold (yellow) and palladium (blue) on an acid-treated carbon support (gray). These particles were employed as catalysts for the formation of hydrogen peroxide from hydrogen (white) and oxygen (red).
Tobacco smoke and cooking-stove fires expose people to harmful nanoparticles primarily through the inhalation of combustion byproducts. When these materials are burned, they release fine particles that can be inhaled deep into the lungs.1
- Tobacco Smoke: Smoking delivers a high concentration of particulates directly into the respiratory system. Once in the lungs, these particles can be absorbed by lung cells, potentially causing cellular damage or genetic mutations.12
- Cooking-Stove Fires: In many developing countries, the use of specific types of cooking stoves generates significant emissions of fine particles. Individuals, particularly women who spend substantial time working near these stoves, are at an increased risk of early mortality due to the resulting lung damage.1
It is a fundamental ethical principle to prioritize human health and safety by minimizing exposure to known environmental hazards. While the exact health effects of typical, low-level daily exposure remain a subject of ongoing scientific investigation, the link between these combustion sources and serious respiratory harm is well-documented.1