Keywords: 
• PM2.5 /
• injury /
• mechanism

Abstract: The rapid growing of atmospheric pollution has been a significant issue in recent years. As the main component of atmospheric particulates, the PM2.5 is responsible for the serious human health damage, which has attracted great attention of world’s researchers. The study of organism injury and the underlying mechanisms caused by PM2.5 can provide theoretical basis for effective prevention and therapies of related diseases. This article reviews the damages of PM2.5 to respiratory system, cardiovascular system, immune system and central nervous system from the aspects of population epidemiology investigation, cell experiment and animal experiment. We further summarize the molecular mechanisms regulating the organism injury including oxidative stress, inflammatory response, immune disorder, DNA damage and genetic toxicity as well as signal pathway changes. Discussions on the deficiency of current research and future research directions are developed for better understanding the health risk of PM2.5.