Particulate matter

How is particulate matter harmful to humans? How does particulate matter affect the human body? What does particulate mean? Is particulate matter a primary pollutant?

Particulate matter (PM) is one of the air pollutants regulated by the National Ambient Air Quality Standards (NAAQS). Reducing emissions of inhalable particles improves public health as well as visibility. Some particles less than micrometers in diameter can get deep into your lungs and some may even get into your bloodstream. Particulates – also known as atmospheric aerosol particles, atmospheric particulate matter , particulate matter (PM), or suspended particulate matter (SPM) – are microscopic particles of solid or liquid matter suspended in the air. These particles vary greatly in size, composition, and origin.

It is formed in the atmosphere because of chemical reactions between pollutants. Some particulate matter is large enough to see, but other particulate matter can be seen only with a microscope. Particle pollution — also called particulate matter (PM) — is made up of particles (tiny pieces) of solids or liquids that are in the air.

Industrial facilities, Power plants, vehicles, incinerators, dust and fires are the major source of particulate matter. Fine particulate matter is a potential. Analysis and interpretation of particulate matter.

A review on the human health impact of airborne. Airborne particulate matter represents a complex mixture of organic and inorganic substances. Mass and composition in urban environments tend to be divided into two principal groups: coarse particles and fine particles. The barrier between these two fractions of particles usually lies between µm and 2. EPA defines Particle Pollution or PM as, “ Particle pollution (also called particulate matter or PM) is the term for a mixture of solid particles and liquid droplets found in the air. Perceptions started to change in the mid-20th century with increased health problems being linked to severe air quality issues.

These solid particles are known as diesel particulate matter (diesel PM). Diesel PM contains hundreds of different chemicals. Many of these are harmful to health. Particulate Matter is a mixture of extremely small particles and liquid droplets found in the air.

Sources of particulate pollution include woodstoves, fires, wind-blown dust, automobiles, and industry. Adverse health effects have also been observed in the general population at ambient atmospheric particle concentrations well below the concentrations in occupational settings. This pollution, also known as particulate matter , includes acids (such as nitrates and sulfates), organic chemicals, metals, soil or dust particles, and allergens (such as fragments of pollen or mold spores). This can lead to increased permeability, or the ability of liquids and gases to pass through to the lungs.

Lung Tissue Inflammation. Delaware has permanent air quality monitors in all three Delaware counties which measure a variety of pollutants and other factors. PM includes particles with different characteristics – i. The term fine particles, or particulate matter 2. Like inches, meters and miles, a micron is a unit of measurement for distance. There are about 20microns in an inch.

Natural sources include sea salt, forest fires, pollen and mold. As they are natural occurrences they are harder to control and are usually left unregulated. Human sources, however, can be regulated and understanding where PM comes from is very important. For the determination of particulate matter , two procedures, Method (Light Obscuration Particle Count Test) and Method (Microscopic Particle Count Test), are specified hereinafter.

However, many studies show that the relationship is deeper and far more complicated than originally thought.