Particulate matter is solid particles and liquid particles suspended in air - AQA - A-Level Biology - Question 6 - 2020 - Paper 1
Question 6
Particulate matter is solid particles and liquid particles suspended in air. Polluted air contains more particulate matter than clean air.
A high concentration o... show full transcript
Worked Solution & Example Answer:Particulate matter is solid particles and liquid particles suspended in air - AQA - A-Level Biology - Question 6 - 2020 - Paper 1
Step 1
Increased distance for diffusion
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Answer
When alveolar epithelium cells die, the resulting thickened tissue increases the distance over which gas must diffuse. This hampers the effective transfer of oxygen and carbon dioxide between the alveoli and the blood.
Step 2
Reduced surface area
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Answer
The death of these cells leads to a decreased surface area for gas exchange. A smaller area results in less efficient exchange of gases, meaning that the body might not receive enough oxygen or expel carbon dioxide effectively.
Step 3
Reduced rate of gas exchange
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Answer
With both increased distance for diffusion and reduced surface area, the overall rate of gas exchange diminishes, which can have detrimental effects on oxygen supply and carbon dioxide removal in the lungs.
