Vol. 8, Issue 1, Part A (2026)

This study examined the physiological impacts of aerosols on adult individuals in Owerri, Imo State, Nigeria, between January 2024 and October 2025, using a cross-sectional field research design. Aerosol samples were collected across diverse urban environments to capture variations in particle size, chemical composition, and acidity. The characteristics of aerosols were systematically analyzed, and their potential physiological relevance, including deep lung deposition, oxidative stress induction, and tissue irritation, was assessed. Mechanistic pathways such as inflammatory responses, vascular dysregulation, genotoxic effects, and epigenetic modifications were evaluated, alongside health outcomes in respiratory, cardiovascular, metabolic, and neurological systems. Analysis of 150 samples indicated that fine particles (PM₂.₅) were most prevalent (45.3%), followed by ultrafine particles (<0.1 µm, 21.3%), acidic aerosols (16.7%), coarse particles (PM₁₀, 10.0%), and high-metal aerosols (6.7%), with corresponding physiological effects including alveolar inflammation, oxidative stress, tissue irritation, and cardiovascular stress. Mechanistically, oxidative stress (46.7%) and inflammatory responses (23.3%) were the dominant pathways, while vascular dysregulation (14.7%), DNA/genotoxic damage (10.0%), and epigenetic modification (5.3%) were less frequent. Respiratory diseases were the most common health outcome (64.0%), followed by cardiovascular (22.0%), systemic/metabolic (8.0%), and neurological effects (6.0%). These findings highlight the significant burden of aerosol exposure on pulmonary and systemic health, underscoring the need for targeted interventions and public health strategies to mitigate exposure in urban environments.