We fail to see how polluted the air that we breathe is. The reason behind this is that most of the air pollutants are not visible to the naked eye. One such pollutant is particulate matter (PM). Particulate air pollution is a mixture of solid, liquid or solid and liquid particles suspended in the air. Several components, like acids (sulphates and nitrates), organic chemicals, metals, and soil or dust particles, constitute particle matter. The particles vary in size, composition and origin, and are categorized into coarse, fine and ultrafine. Coarse particles also referred to as PM 10, are 2.5 to 10 micrometre in diameter

1. WHAT ISPM2.5AND
WHYISIT
IMPORTANT?

2. WHATISPM2.5?
We fail to see how polluted the air that we breathe is. The reason behind this is that most of
the air pollutants are not visible to the naked eye. One such pollutant is particulate matter (PM).
Particulate air pollution is a mixture of solid,
liquid or solid and liquid particles suspended in the air. Several components, like acids (sulphates
and nitrates), organic chemicals, metals, and soil or dust particles, constitute particle matter. The
particles vary in size, composition and origin, and are categorized into coarse, fine and ultrafine.
Coarse particles also referred to as PM 10, are 2.5 to 10 micrometre in diameter. PM 2.5 refers to
the fine particles which have a diameter less than 2.5 micrometres. They remain suspended in the
air longer than the coarse particles. PM 2.5 is more harmful than PM 10, as the smaller particles
can move deeply into the respiratory tracts and reach the lungs. As a result, it becomes hard to
expel these particles out through either sneezing or coughing. The PM 2.5 particles are
formed by burning fuel and the chemical reactions that take place in the atmosphere. Natural
processes like forest fires can also contribute to PM 2.5 in the air. These particles are also the
primary reason for smog.

3. WHYPM2.5SHOULDBEOURCONCERN?
.Sources of PM 2.5 can be outdoor as well as indoor.
Outdoor sources include emissions from a car, truck, bus,
construction exhausts and operations that involve the
burning of fuels such as wood, heating coal or oil and natural
sources such as grass and forest fires. These particles can also
form from the drops or gas reactions in the atmosphere from
causes such as power plants. Indoor sources include cigarette
smoke, cooking, burning oil lamps or paraffin wax candles,
and operating fireplaces and fuel-burning space heaters like
kerosene lamps.

4. Exposure to PM 2.5 has multiple health impacts, both short-term and
long-term. Short-term effects of PM 2.5 exposure include eye, nose,
throat and lung irritation, runny nose, shortness of breath, coughing and
sneezing. If a person is already suffering from medical conditions like
asthma and heart diseases, their illness can worsen due to inhaling PM
2.5. Prolonged exposure to PM2.5 can cause permanent respiratory
problems such as asthma, chronic bronchitis and heart disease. Studies
have shown that prolonged exposure to fine particulate matter may be
associated with increased rates of reduced lung function, chronic
bronchitis and increased mortality from heart disease and lung cancer.
While exposure to PM 2.5 is harmful to everyone, people with breathing
and heart problems, children and the elderly are the ones who are the
most vulnerable. As the particulate matter isomnipresent, deaths due to
ambient (outdoor) particulate matter are way more than those due
to alcohol and diabetes.

5. Particulate matter not only causes health problems, but it also harms the environment.These
particles can absorb and radiate heat and reflect sunlight (sulphates). The fine particles are also
responsible for reduced visibility. Other environment effects include making lakes and water
streams acidic, depleting the soil quality, affecting biodiversity, and damaging forests and
farm crop In India, the standard for the annual average of PM 2.5 is 60ug/m3. Out of the top
20 cities with highest the PM 2.5 globally, 10 are in India.
To reduce the harmful effect of PM 2.5 avoid long and strenuous activities outside in
environments where PM 2.5 may be high like industrial areas and roads with heavy traffic.
Don’t burn incense inside homes for too long. Switch your paraffin wax candles with
beeswax candles as they burn with almost no smoke or scent. They are also helpful in
removing common allergens like dust from the air and can be a relief, especially for
asthmatics.
The most efficient way to control indoor air pollution and PM 2.5 is by installing air exhaust
and air purifiers.
More ways to purify indoor air: https://oxygarden.com/blog/different-ways-to-improve-
purify-indoor-air/