Ultrafine particles (UFPs) are tiny airborne particles 100 nanometers or smaller, produced primarily by diesel combustion from road vehicles. Despite their negligible mass, they vastly outnumber larger particles in the air, can penetrate deep into the lungs and enter the bloodstream, and carry toxic compounds that pose serious health risks. Their emissions also affect rainfall patterns and climate, potentially causing broader public health impacts beyond their direct effects on the human body.Open full document
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This review examines the physicochemical characteristics of ultrafine particles (UFPs), aerosols with an aerodynamic diameter of 100 nm or less, focusing on their health implications. The authors discuss UFP dynamics including nucleation, coagulation, and condensation processes, with particular attention to diesel combustion as a primary urban source. The paper also addresses UFP impacts on global climate change through effects on precipitation patterns and the hydrological cycle.