Our Lungs Have A Fatal Flaw

Our respiratory systems do a great job of protecting us, but they are no match for the smallest pollution particles created by the modern world.

LEARN MORE
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To learn more about this topic, start your googling with these keywords:
- Alveolus: any of the many tiny air sacs of the lungs which allow for rapid gaseous exchange.
- Bronchiole: any of the minute branches into which a bronchus divides.
- PM 2.5: tiny particles or droplets in the air that are two and one half microns or less in width.
- PM 10: inhalable particles, with diameters that are generally 10 micrometers and smaller.
- Nasopharynx: the upper part of the pharynx, connecting with the nasal cavity above the soft palate.

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CREDITS
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Cameron Duke | Script Writer, Narrator and Director
Arcadi Garcia Rius | Illustration, Video Editing and Animation
Aldo de Vos | Music

MinuteEarth is produced by Neptune Studios LLC

OUR STAFF
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Lizah van der Aart • Sarah Berman • Cameron Duke
Arcadi Garcia i Rius • David Goldenberg • Melissa Hayes
Alex Reich • Henry Reich • Peter Reich
Ever Salazar • Leonardo Souza • Kate Yoshida

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REFERENCES
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Hiraiwa, Kunihiko, and Stephan F. van Eeden. “Contribution of Lung Macrophages to the Inflammatory Responses Induced by Exposure to Air Pollutants.” Mediators of Inflammation, vol. 2013, 2013, pp. 1–10, 10.1155/2013/619523.

Schwab, Jan-Alexander, and Matthias Zenkel. “Filtration of Particulates in the Human Nose.” The Laryngoscope, vol. 108, no. 1, Jan. 1998, pp. 120–124, 10.1097/00005537-199801000-00023

[zero]

Bullets? Is it bullets? In my experience lungs don’t do too well with bullets. So, if you’re going to say they have one weakness. I’m gonna say that weakness is bullets.

[BuildinWings]

Fact: Longterm exposure to your own lungs is terminal.

[Sci_X]

I think the fact the airways being attached to the esophagus is a pretty big problem too I haven’t gotten tuberculosis but I damn have choked on my own saliva

[mohammednajah]

There's also other protective measures like sneezing, coughing and macrophages that eat particles

[benjaminsantillo-herbert]

For some reason I now want a game to be made relating to how particles get to the lungs

[Ascertivus]

I argue that this is not a flaw.
Our lungs likely did not evolve to filter out particles of this size because they did not exist until very recently relative to our species’ entire history. Therefore, this is not our body’s fault, only a shortcoming. The true blame goes to the producers of said particles.

[CMZneu]

The filtration particle size problems are similar to what happens to HEPA air filtration systems.

[Sulffi]

The fact that our lungs have evolved to create vortexes is honestly unbelievable

[matt-thorn]

I thought the fatal flaw would be that although we have two lungs, so we can survive if one fails, they both still take in air from the same passage.

[bjarnes.]

Great video. Although I had hoped you'd also talk about other ways particles can enter, specifically through the mouth. I have this issue where I sometimes breathe in rice or bread crumbs and then try to cough them out. Since those particles are rather large and don't get captured before entering the lungs, I'd really like to know what happens with the large particles in the lung.

[congruentcrib]

At work, we are required to grind down the corrosion on the back of the wheel hub, every time we take a wheel off.
This is how you’re supposed to do it, but most places don’t. Since they go so long without being cleaned, we usually get a large dust cloud of corrosion to breath in.
I don’t know how, but for some reason they do not provide us with respirators to avoid breathing that in.
So I guess I’ll just buy my own.

[arbodox]

I love that Celeste reference at the start 0:01

[randomz]

Great video once again! I love these videos talking about the anatomy of places in the torso or head. I guess it's because those places are closest to most of our sensory organs, so we are the most intimately familiar with them. As a result, anything which gives a new perspective on these regions can completely alter one's worldview.

[Tactical_sandwich]

Honestly this is a pretty short and sweet summary of why we should avoid poluting the air. Good job!

[AnimeShinigami]

I love your art style, and I especially love the airborn particle dragon at the end. <3 I've had a thing for dragons since the age of 12. So I appreciate a good dragon drawing.

[TojiFushigoroWasTaken]

WHAT THE ACTUAL F. To think all this happens when you this is simply ingenious and mind-blowing 🤯

[kayskreed]

The oesophagus should be completely separate from the breathing pathway. We could then eat/drink and breathe at the same time, minimizing the risk of choking. The body should also have a backup method of assimilating oxygen in case the lungs become overly clogged up or compromised. Many of our bodily systems are far too vulnerable and in need of an upgrade. Of course cyborg bodies may one day be the better choice.

[DarkStar-nwee]

Damnit, now my breathing has been set to manual.

[tufonkin]

One crucial correction: those nasty sub-mkm particles (with aerodynamic diameter of several hundred nm) have a great chance to make all the way out due to the same reasons they can reach alveoli. A large portion of them are exhaled back. Guess, what is a particle size of a tobacco smoke, that is partially exhaled?

[soacespacestation]

People who live in Rural areas: I have no such weaknesses