We have seen a lot of smoke in the air from nearby fires in Utah and Montana which seems to effect some people more than others. Why is it that some people are more sensitive to smoke and other pollutants who have sinus problems or asthma than others with the same chronic problems? It seems that just like our gut, our airway, including our sinuses, are associated with a community of microbes, some that may be very beneficial. Some of these bacteria produce compounds that have antimicrobial and anti-inflammatory properties. While others, can lead to harmful respiratory infections.
A study in Milan Italy was done to look at 
. This might give us an early indication of problems before disease develops. There is more research to be done, but it makes sense that the particulates we inhale would effect our airway microbiome and the manifestations of that could be different for everyone.
Air pollution changes what bugs colonise our airways | New Scientist: “”