What Is PM2.5 and PM10? Info About Particulate Matter (Particle Pollution)

Air pollution is one of the biggest environmental and health concerns today, with particulate matter (PM) often touted as one of the major contributors. PM10 and PM2.5 take pole positions as some of the most harmful pollutants, as their tiny size allows them to be easily inhaled, leading to various health risks. While these particles are invisible to the naked eye, their effects on global air quality and well-being are significant. Understanding what is PM10 and what is PM2.5, where they come from, and how they impact our daily lives is a topic that’s relevant to everyone today from a public health perspective – and that’s why we will be tackling it today.

Table of Contents

• Sources of PM10 and PM2.5 Pollution
• PM2.5 – The Most Harmful Pollutant
• PM10 – harmful particulate matter
• The Takeaway

Sources of PM10 and PM2.5 Pollution

There are several contributing factors that can temporarily increase the concentration of particulate matter in the air, both natural and man-made. Let’s take a look at them now.

• Human-Made Sources: Anthropogenic climate change and air pollution sources that you probably are well aware of are, unfortunately, once again the main culprits in this story. Industrial emissions, vehicle exhaust fumes, and residential heating are among the biggest contributors. Additionally, construction sites release dust (PM10), while fuel combustion in power plants and car engines generates fine particles (PM2.5). Other activities, for example, burning crop residue in the agricultural sector, can also play a role in worsening air pollution.
• Natural Sources: Not all PM pollution is caused by human activity. Natural events like wildfires, volcanic eruptions, and dust storms also release large amounts of PM10 and PM2.5 into the air.

Notably, various regions experience different levels of these pollutants. Urban areas tend to have higher concentrations of PM2.5 due to traffic congestion and industrial emissions, while rural areas might see more PM10 from farming activities and dust. However, no matter where you look, the economic impact of air pollution can be felt all the same.

PM2.5 – The Most Harmful Pollutant

What is PM2.5? This kind of particulate matter includes all atmospheric aerosols with a maximum diameter of 2.5 micrometers, hence the 2.5 designation. Due to the fine nature of these particles and their inherent ability to penetrate directly into our bloodstream, PM2.5 is considered to be the most dangerous kind of pollutant that does the most damage to human health.

When it comes to its specific health effects, PM2.5 is responsible for:

• Aggravating asthma symptoms and impairing lung function
• Increasing risk of lung, throat, or laryngeal cancer
• Causing cardiovascular complications, including arrhythmia, vasculitis, and atherosclerosis
• Compromising fetal development, leading to lower birth weight and prenatal respiratory issues
• Exacerbating symptoms of existing circulatory and respiratory system diseases

Because of this long list of harmful effects, many regions and countries have introduced regulations aiming to limit the concentration of PM2.5 to relevant thresholds. When these thresholds are exceeded, an alarm is issued to keep the public aware of the dangers associated with exceptionally low air quality at any given moment.

However, this works somewhat as a double-edged sword. Many people grow overly complacent, relying solely on these alerts and warning systems, thinking that ordinary air is free of PM2.5, which is not the case. In Poland, even when the concentration of PM2.5 reaches astonishingly high levels, it does not exceed the delineated legal threshold.

Additionally, some areas fail to properly disclose and distribute information when PM2.5 concentrations reach dangerous levels. In other cases, because this happens so often, it becomes a daily occurrence, and residents simply stop paying attention. In Cracow, for example, very few people wear smog masks despite constantly having to breathe in heavily polluted air.

It is also worth adding that the WHO has set the standard of the average daily concentration of PM2.5 suspended particulate matter at 25 micrograms per cubic meter, and the annual standard is 10 micrograms per cubic meter.

PM10 – harmful particulate matter

What is PM10? It refers to airborne particles that do not exceed 10 micrometers in diameter. These particles are especially dangerous because they contain carcinogenic substances, including benzopyrenes, furans, dioxins, and heavy metals.

According to the WHO, the limit value of the average daily concentration of this particulate matter is 50 micrograms per cubic meter, and the annual limit value is 20 micrograms per cubic meter.

Critically, official warnings are only issued when daily PM10 concentrations reach 200 micrograms per cubic meter. This threshold often leads to a false sense of security, as air quality can be dangerously compromised well before reaching the alarm level.

The health impacts of PM10 significantly impair the functioning of the human respiratory system. For example, inhaling too much can trigger coughing attacks, wheezing, and the worsening of conditions for people with asthma or acute bronchitis.

Regular exposure to high PM10 concentrations also indirectly increases the risk of cardiovascular events, such as myocardial infarctions (or heart attacks) and strokes. One of the chemicals found in PM10, benzopyrene, is also particularly carcinogenic.

The Takeaway

PM10 and PM2.5 pollution is a complex issue influenced by both natural and human factors. While regulations and technology improvements have helped us reduce emissions in some areas, ongoing efforts are needed to control pollution levels. Given how PM10, PM2.5, and air quality are intrinsically linked, this topic bears significant implications for public health. Remember to always protect your own health and look out for air quality alerts in your area. If your local community doesn’t have a reliable warning system, make sure to check out the Air Pollution Map available directly on our website.

You may also read: Everything you should know about air pollution.

References:

• https://pl.wikipedia.org/wiki/Smog
• https://pl.wikipedia.org/wiki/PM2,5
• https://kobieta.onet.pl/zdrowie/pyl-zawieszony-pm10-i-pm25-normy-i-szkodliwosc-maska- przeciwpylowa/nw99lmy
• http://www.tworzymyatmosfere.pl/wplyw-zanieczyszczenia-powietrza-na-zdrowie https://pl.wikipedia.org/wiki/PM10