Table 1 Specific components of PM2.5 and possible mechanisms for the association with ischemic stroke.

From: Research progress of different components of PM2.5 and ischemic stroke

 

Different components of PM2.5

Water-soluble inorganic ions (water-soluble anions and cations)

Carbon-containing fractions

Inorganic elements

Organic matter

Microorganisms

Specific components

Sulfate–nitrate–ammonium salts (SNA)

Organic carbon (OC)

Heavy metal elements

Insoluble organic compounds

Living organisms

Cations

Primary organic carbon (POC)

Major elements (Al/Mg/Ca etc.)

Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs)

Bacteria

Ammonium (NH4+)

Secondary organic carbon (SOC)

Minor elements (Ti/Cu/Zn etc.)

Aliphatic hydrocarbons

Viruses

Calcium (Ca2+)

Elemental carbon (EC) (light-absorbing carbon or black carbon)

Trace elements (Be/Ag/Cd etc.)

etc.

Fungal spores

etc.

Carbonate carbon (CC)

Other inorganic elements

Water-soluble organic compounds

etc.

Anions

Bromine (Br)

Carboxylic acids

Dead microorganisms or their related components

Sulfate (SO42−)

etc.

Phenols

Endotoxins

Nitrate (NO3−)

etc.

β-glucans

etc.

etc.

Possible mechanisms

Oxidative stress

Chronic inflammation

Platelet aggregation

Vascular endothelial cell injury etc.

Atherosclerosis

Platelet aggregation

Accelerated plaque formation

Cardiac autonomic dysfunction etc.

Genetic mutations

Neural interference

Disturbance of the body's dynamic equilibrium and biological processes etc.

Bioaccumulation

Atherosclerosis

Oxidative stress induced mutations etc.

Atherosclerosis

Inflammatory injury

Vascular endothelial dysfunction

Hematologic changes (hypercoagulability) etc.