This editorial introduces a special journal issue examining ultrafine particles (UFPs) — tiny airborne pollutants less than 100 nanometers in diameter produced by fossil fuel combustion, industrial emissions, and other sources. The articles covered explain how UFPs can enter the body through the lungs and travel to virtually all organs, contributing to respiratory disease, cardiovascular problems, diabetes, cancer, and neurological effects. The editors emphasize that while UFPs pose significant health risks, their precise role in many illnesses remains poorly understood, calling for urgent global research into their sources and health impacts.Open full document
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This editorial introduces a special issue of Experimental & Molecular Medicine focused on ultrafine particles (UFPs), covering their sources, physicochemical characteristics, and health effects. The authors summarize four review articles addressing UFP toxicity, diesel combustion sources, respiratory health mechanisms, and the role of bacteria-derived particles in pulmonary disease. The editorial calls for greater global and interdisciplinary research attention on UFPs given their potential to harm multiple organ systems.