If someone knows the answer to this I’d be interested to know :
Do different PM2.5 components affect the body differently, even for the same overall count?
Eg, are the PM2.5 particulates from burning toast comparable in bodily health impact to a similar PM2.5 count coming from a heavy Diesel engine’s exhaust (which I presume would have a different particulate makeup).
Still an active field of study but your intuition seems to be right. One study is here [1]. Combustible “types” of PM are usually worse (think smoke / carbon) vs. vaporous types of PM. The method of action is hypothesized to be the carbon particulate getting lodged in your lungs (similar problems from smoking, carbon nanotube inhalation, or charred foods).
Do different PM2.5 components affect the body differently, even for the same overall count?
Eg, are the PM2.5 particulates from burning toast comparable in bodily health impact to a similar PM2.5 count coming from a heavy Diesel engine’s exhaust (which I presume would have a different particulate makeup).