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Particulates and radioactive particles are two completely different issues. However, they are often confused. What are the basic differences between particulate matter and radiation?
Table of Contents
What is particulate matter?
Particulate matter (PM) are substances that can be found in exhaust gas, which are in a liquid or solid state, and they are: unburned carbon (soot), nitrogen compounds, sulfur compounds or various types of heavy hydrocarbons. Taking into account health risks, these particles are defined by their so-called aerodynamic diameter. PM2.5 dust contains particles with a small diameter, up to 2.5 micrometers. Due to this small size they can easily and quickly get into the respiratory system, and then move further, causing bloodstream poisoning. The main sources of this dust are home furnaces and road transport. On the other hand, PM10 has a diameter of up to 10 micrometers. This size allows particles to pass into our lungs. The main source of PM10 dust in our cities is emissions from combustion in individual heating systems of solid fuels such as coal, wood and biomass, and from road traffic, especially from vehicles with diesel engines without particulate filters. The health effects of exposure to polluted air relate primarily to the respiratory and cardiovascular systems, and are also associated with an increase in hospitalization and a reduction in life expectancy. Increasingly, attention is also paid to the negative impact of air pollution on human mental health (intensification or development of depression symptoms), as well as intellectual development disorders in children and adolescents.
Radioactive particles
There are four major types of radiation: alpha, beta, neutrons, and electromagnetic waves such as gamma rays. They differ in mass, energy and how deeply they penetrate people and objects. Alpha radiation is very strongly absorbed by matter. Even a few centimeters of air completely shields against this radiation. Similarly, the sheet or the epidermis completely absorb the alpha rays. However, eating food or inhaling air that contains alpha-producing substances can be harmful and even lethal. Once the radioactive material is in the human body, the alpha particles it produces ionize tissues very strongly. This leads to serious damage and radiation sickness.
Summary
In the case of radiation we are talking about the size level of elementary particles. PM is much larger, in comparison, so we are rather dealing with the coincidence of the name “particle”.