In summary, our studies show that ambient PM can have significant oxidative capacity, that UFP can induce significant effects not only in the respiratory tract but more importantly affect the vascular and cardiac system and that age and underlying disease (susceptibility factors) are critical modifying factors. Furthermore, our demonstration of their efficient translocation from deposition sites in the respiratory tract to other organs such as heart and CNS provides plausibility for UFP-induced oxidative stress in those organs. Such translocation could be particularly detrimental in susceptible individuals with dysfunctional vascular endothelium as the earliest manifestation of atherosclerotic vascular disease, such as seen in type 2 diabetes. This is presently being tested in ongoing studies.