Is inhalable particulate matter harmful to the body?

In this way, the human body inevitably inhales various particles every day. Even if it is labeled as harmless, it should be careful. If we only look at it from the point of view of harm, any particle that exceeds the number is harmful.

It refers to particulate matter with a particle size of less than 10 microns that can be inhaled per acre.

Respirable particulate matter lasts for a long time in ambient air and has a significant impact on human health and atmospheric visibility. This usually comes from vehicles driving on unpaved asphalt and cement pavement, crushing and grinding of materials, and dust kicked up by the wind. After inhalation, inhalable particulate matter will accumulate in the respiratory system, causing many diseases and causing great harm to humans.

The concentration of inhalable particulate matter is expressed in milligrams of inhalable particulate matter per cubic meter of air. In 1996, the State Environmental Protection Administration (SEPA) promulgated and revised the "Ambient Air Quality Standard (GB3095-1996)", which renamed floating dust as inhalable particulate matter as the official air quality standard.

Total suspended particulate matter is a general term for solid and liquid particulate matter floating in the air, with particle sizes ranging from about microns. Some particulate matter, such as soot, can be seen by the naked eye due to its large size or black color. Some are small enough to be observed with an electron microscope.

Particulate matter with a particle size of less than 10 microns is usually referred to as PM10, also known as inhalable particulate matter or dust. Respirable particulate matter (PM10) persists in ambient air for a long time and has a significant impact on human health and atmospheric visibility. Some particulate matter comes from direct emissions from pollution sources, such as chimneys and vehicles.

Others are chemical and physical particles formed by the interaction of sulfur oxides, nitrogen oxides, volatile organic compounds and other compounds in ambient air.

The composition varies greatly depending on the location, climate, and seasons of the year. Respirable particulate matter typically comes from motor vehicles running on unpaved asphalt, cement surfaces, crushing and grinding of materials, and dust kicked up by the wind.

When inhaled, inhalable particulate matter can accumulate in the respiratory system and cause many diseases. Exposure to coarse particulate matter can damage the respiratory system and induce asthma. Fine particulate matter can cause heart disease, lung disease, respiratory disease, reduce lung function, etc.

Therefore, for sensitive groups such as the elderly, children and people with pre-existing heart and lung diseases, the risk is greater. In addition, particulate matter in the ambient air is a major cause of reduced visibility and can damage building surfaces.

Hazards: health effects (carcinogenic, mutagenic, teratogenic), scattering sunlight, reduced visibility of the atmosphere, etc.

Treatment methods: use various dust collectors to reduce emissions, pave asphalt pavement, and strictly control motor vehicle exhaust emissions.

There are two main categories, one is the combustion of fuel, and the other is wind physical dust.

Hazards: Causes respiratory diseases and affects visibility.

Treatment methods: industrial installation of dust removal equipment, vehicles to improve combustion efficiency, construction, agriculture to do a good job of sand and dust management.

Particulate matter in the air can be divided into dust and dust according to the particle history. Dust reduction refers to the solid particles in the atmosphere with a particle size greater than 10 m, which are easy to settle due to gravity, have a short residence time in the air, and are effectively blocked in the upper respiratory tract during respiration, so they are less harmful to people. Floating dust refers to solid particles with a particle size of less than 10 m in the air, which can be suspended in the air for a long time and are easy to invade the lung tissues of the human body with breathing, so it is called "inhalable particulate matter", which is more harmful to the human body.

1. Erosion of alveoli.

Solid particles with a particle size of 1 m80 will be enriched on the alveoli and deposited for several years, which can cause chronic fibrosis of lung tissues, reduce the switching function of alveoli, and lead to cor pulmonale, cardiovascular disease and other diseases.

2. It is a carrier and catalyst for a variety of pollution.

Respirable particulate matter contains large amounts of contaminants such as organic compounds, metal compounds, radioactive substances, nitrates and sulfates, which can cause many diseases.

3. It enters the circulatory system of the human body and endangers health.

The toxic organic substances contained in inhalable particulate matter are absorbed by the alveoli and can directly enter the blood circulation and be transported to the whole body, which is very harmful.