Katana VentraIP

Particulates

Particulates or atmospheric particulate matter (see below for other names) are microscopic particles of solid or liquid matter suspended in the air. The term aerosol commonly refers to the particulate/air mixture, as opposed to the particulate matter alone.[1] Sources of particulate matter can be natural or anthropogenic.[2] They have impacts on climate and precipitation that adversely affect human health, in ways additional to direct inhalation.

This article is about particles suspended in air. For general discussion of particulate types, see Particle § Distribution of particles. For other uses, see Particulates (disambiguation).

Types of atmospheric particles include suspended particulate matter; thoracic and respirable particles;[3] inhalable coarse particles, designated PM10, which are coarse particles with a diameter of 10 micrometers (μm) or less; fine particles, designated PM2.5, with a diameter of 2.5 μm or less;[4] ultrafine particles, with a diameter of 100 nm or less; and soot.


Airborne particulate matter is a Group 1 carcinogen.[5] Particulates are the most harmful form (other than ultra-fines) of air pollution[6] as they can penetrate deep into the lungs and brain from blood streams, causing health problems such as heart disease, lung disease, cancer and preterm birth.[7] There is no safe level of particulates. Worldwide, exposure to PM2.5 contributed to 4.1 million deaths from heart disease, stroke, lung cancer, chronic lung disease, and respiratory infections in 2016.[8] Overall, ambient particulate matter is one of the leading risk factor for premature death globally.[9]

Burning of (e.g., aircraft),[10][11][12] joss paper,[13][14][15] waste,[16] firecrackers[17] and biomass including wood[18] and crop residue.

fossil fuels

(including activities of building rehabilitation/ refurbishment or demolition).[19][20][21][22]

Construction

.[23][24]

Renovation

diesel exhausts of the heavy equipments used, emission from the production of building materials, etc.[25][26][27][28]

Roadworks

Dusty materials that are not cleaned up or properly covered (e.g., in construction sites, landfills and ceramics production facilities; ashes left from burning or wildfires).[30][31]

[29]

(e.g., welding).[32]

Metalworking

.[33][34]

Woodworking

Glass reprocessing.

.[4]

Industries

(frying, boiling, grilling).[35]

Cooking

Agricultural activities (e.g., ploughing and soil tilling).

[36]

.[37]

Power plants

Waste .[38][39]

incineration

from tyre and road wear[40] and road dust from unpaved road.[41]

Road dust

Wet in cooling systems.

cooling towers

Various industrial processes such as ,[42][43] smelting[44] and oil refining.[45]

mining

Disasters (both natural or caused by humans, e.g., wildfires, earthquakes, wars,[47][48] and September 11 attacks, etc.).

[46]

(gaining attention as a type of airborne PM).[49][50]

Microplastics

U.S. counties violating national PM2.5 standards, June 2018

U.S. counties violating national PM2.5 standards, June 2018

U.S. counties violating national PM10 standards, June 2018

U.S. counties violating national PM10 standards, June 2018

atmospheric aerosol particles

particulate matter (PM)

suspended particulate matter (SPM)

. US EPA. 7 January 2015.

"Best Practices for Indoor Air Quality when Remodeling Your Home"

. EPA Victoria.

"Examples of how to manage dust in the workplace"

Control of dust from construction and demolition activities

Controlling construction dust with on-tool extraction (4 page PDF with photos)

| Dust control - Hilti Hong Kong

Beware of dust - Hilti Canada

What is Local Exhaust Ventilation (LEV)?

Welding fume: protect your workers

from the Hong Kong Construction Association with many illustrated useful tips on particle pollution control. Archived from original on 3 July 2023.

Environmental Toolbox Training Kit