Particulate Matter (PM) Basics | US EPA

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Particulate matter contains microscopic solids or liquid droplets that are so small that they can be inhaled and cause serious health problems. Skiptomaincontent Officialwebsitesuse.gov A.govwebsitebelongstoanofficialgovernmentorganizationintheUnitedStates. Secure.govwebsitesuseHTTPS Alock(LockAlockedpadlock)orhttps://meansyou’vesafelyconnectedtothe.govwebsite.Sharesensitiveinformationonlyonofficial,securewebsites. ParticulateMatter(PM)Pollution ContactUs ParticulateMatter(PM)Basics OnThisPage: WhatisPM,andhowdoesitgetintotheair? WhataretheharmfuleffectsofPM? Whatisbeingdonetoreduceparticlepollution? HowcanIreducemyexposuretoPM? WhatisPM,andhowdoesitgetintotheair? SizecomparisonsforPMparticles PMstandsforparticulatematter (alsocalledparticlepollution): thetermforamixtureofsolidparticlesandliquiddropletsfoundintheair.Someparticles,suchasdust,dirt,soot,orsmoke,arelargeordarkenoughtobeseenwiththenakedeye.Othersaresosmalltheycanonlybedetectedusinganelectronmicroscope.Particlepollutionincludes: PM10 : inhalable particles, withdiametersthataregenerally10micrometersandsmaller;and PM2.5 : fineinhalableparticles, withdiametersthataregenerally2.5micrometersandsmaller. Howsmallis2.5micrometers?Thinkaboutasinglehairfromyourhead.Theaveragehumanhairisabout70micrometersindiameter–makingit30timeslargerthanthelargestfineparticle. SourcesofPMTheseparticlescomeinmanysizesandshapesandcanbemadeupofhundredsofdifferentchemicals.Someare emitteddirectlyfromasource,suchasconstructionsites,unpavedroads,fields,smokestacksorfires.Mostparticles formintheatmosphereasaresultofcomplexreactions ofchemicalssuchassulfurdioxide andnitrogenoxides,whicharepollutants emittedfrompowerplants,industriesandautomobiles.WhataretheHarmfulEffectsofPM?Particulatemattercontainsmicroscopicsolidsorliquiddropletsthataresosmallthattheycanbeinhaled andcauseserioushealthproblems.Someparticleslessthan10micrometersindiametercangetdeepintoyourlungsandsomemayevengetintoyourbloodstream.Ofthese,particleslessthan2.5micrometersindiameter,alsoknownasfineparticlesorPM2.5,posethegreatestrisktohealth.Fineparticlesarealsothemaincauseofreducedvisibility(haze)inpartsoftheUnitedStates,includingmanyofourtreasurednationalparksandwildernessareas.LearnmoreabouthealthandenvironmentaleffectsWhatisBeingDonetoReduce ParticlePollution?EPAregulatesinhalableparticles.Particlesofsandandlargedust,whicharelargerthan10micrometers, arenotregulatedbyEPA. EPA’snationalandregionalrulestoreduceemissionsofpollutantsthatformPMwillhelpstateandlocalgovernmentsmeettheAgency’snationalairqualitystandards. LearnabouthowairqualitystandardshelpreducePM.HowCanI ReduceMyExposuretoPM?YoucanuseairqualityalertstoprotectyourselfandotherswhenPMreachesharmfullevels:AirNow: EverydaytheAirQualityIndex(AQI)tellsyouhowcleanorpollutedyouroutdoorairis,alongwithassociatedhealtheffectsthatmaybeofconcern.TheAQItranslatesairqualitydataintonumbersandcolorsthathelppeopleunderstandwhentotakeactiontoprotecttheirhealth. GotoAboutAirNowtolearnhowyoucangetAQInotifications. Alsolearnhowthe AirQualityFlagProgramcanhelpairagencies,schools,andothercommunityorganizationstonotifytheircitizensofharmfulconditionsandadjustoutdoorphysicalactivitiesasneeded. ContactUstoaskaquestion,providefeedback,orreportaproblem. LastupdatedonJuly18,2022



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