Aerosoli

Aerosols are suspensions of fine solid or liquid particles in a gas. They include natural materials such as dust, sea spray, pollen, smoke, and volcanic ash, as well as human-made particles from combustion, industry, and agriculture. Particle sizes span from a few nanometers to tens of micrometers, with the most health-relevant particles typically in the submicrometer range.

Atmospheric aerosols influence climate and weather by scattering and absorbing solar radiation and by acting as nuclei for cloud formation. They affect air quality and visibility and contribute to regional and global climate forcing. The composition of aerosols varies widely and may include sulfates, nitrates, organic compounds, black carbon, sea salt, and mineral dust. Health effects are linked particularly to fine and ultrafine particles, which can penetrate deep into the lungs and enter the bloodstream, contributing to respiratory and cardiovascular disease.

Aerosols form through processes such as nucleation (gas-phase molecules forming new particles), condensation (growth by vapor deposition), and coagulation (particles merging). They are removed from the atmosphere by deposition, precipitation, and scavenging, with lifetimes ranging from hours to days depending on size and weather conditions.

In medicine, aerosols are used to deliver drugs to the lungs via inhalers or nebulizers. In industry, aerosol technology enables spray coatings, drying, and material deposition. Measurements often describe mass concentration (such as PM2.5 and PM10) or particle number, and properties are monitored for health, environmental, and regulatory purposes.