Mouth breathing a risk factor?

I just read an article on pollution and extremely tiny particulates that made me think again about an issue that has concerned me in the past:

Due to a deviated septum and the natural mechanics of my jaw, I tend to always breathe through my mouth. I've lived almost all of my 35 years in a pretty clean part of town where the air is virtually always rated as good, but I'm wondering if mouth breathing is a clear significant risk due to the problem of microparticulates from vehicles, etc. Does the nose serve a *very* significant function? In the winter, I know it helps the air have a chance to warm. And I know that slower exhaling affects the balance of CO2 in the body, but does anyone know very well the amount of damage and the specific damage I'm likely doing by mouth breathing always? I have always been kind of a heavy breather, and I'm not sure whether that's because of this alteration in carbon dioxide balance. Otherwise, I have almost zero risk factors for atherosclerosis or diabetes.

Also... I'm about to move and likely will be 2 blocks from the highway but just west of it so not in the direct flow usually. Kind of wondering now whether I will scrap those plans. How seriously should people be taking this issue now that more details are coming out about this type of pollution?

I know I will get some helpful answers, so, thanks a lot!

Thanks Andrew for your answer and Merry Christmas to you too,

Well, I wish I knew just how significant is the advantage conferred by nose as opposed to mouth breathing. I have looked around the net and I can find some information and opinions about it, some of which seems pretty extreme in their claims. I did have septoplasty almost 20 years ago which maybe improved things a little bit, but I guess I need to go to an ENT doc now and see what kinds of suggestions they would have to get me breathing the proper way for once in my life, if possible.

Still, maybe it's not that important... I guess there wouldn't be much data on the subject. Also, I wonder how the nose could have been evolved to stop these super fine particles they are discovering these days which come from vehicles and industry, etc. Probably most of it slips into the body anyway. Do you think there are good tests right now for finding out pretty accurately how much toxic material a person has accumulated in his body?

Happy New Year!

On topic for this forum is the probable increased CV risk associated with increased particulate exposure.

It should be considered. If you had a choice in environments with differing amounts of particulate concentrations by 2-3 orders of magnitude, conventional wisdom should guide you to the environment with less pollution.

Thanks for the regards.

May you have a blessed Christmas