What Is Particulate Matter and Why You Should Care

How much do you know about the air you breathe? Is it pure? Or is it chock-full of dangerous air pollutants?

There are almost too many air contaminants to keep track of, like CO2, pollen, and mold. However, most can be lumped under one umbrella, the umbrella known as particulate matter (PM). 

Now it's time to ask the question, "What is particulate matter? And how dangerous is it actually?" 

Don't fear, we'll explain this and more, including how IoT sensors in your building can help prevent it. 

Particulate Matter 101

Before discussing the dangers of long and short-term exposure to PM, first, you need a foundational understanding of its definition. 

Particulate Matter Definition

Particulate matter encapsulates any form of pollution, tiny airborne contaminants that humans can inhale. It can be liquid droplets like cleaning products, or coarse particles, such as construction dust. 

Additionally, particulate matter can be either primary or secondary pollutants (or particles). Primary pollutants are those released directly into the atmosphere from combustion or human activity, like CO2. On the other hand, secondary particles linger, forming in the atmosphere after interacting with certain elements, such as ammonia. 

The list could unravel much longer, but common PM includes:

● Dust/dirt

● Smoke or combustion exhaust

● Pet dander or waste

● Chemical compositions

● Volatile organic compounds

Regardless of what PM you're dealing with, these different pollutants are airborne and dangerous, given they're small enough to enter the human respiratory system. However, the primary identifying feature of particulate pollution isn't what it is, but its size. When measuring particulate matter, it falls into two sized-based categories.

Category one is PM 10, also known as inhalable particles. This category includes airborne particles with a diameter below 10 micrometers. For perspective, the width of one human hair measures between 50-70 micrometers, meaning PM 10 is 5X smaller in aerodynamic diameter than a human hair. Category two is PM 2.5 particles, also known as fine inhalable particles. 

However, size isn't the only difference between PM 10 and PM 2.5 particles. They also come with different health risks, as smaller particles are understood to pose a greater threat to human health.

The Health Risks Associated with Particulate Matter

Simply put, you can't mess around when it comes to PM. Long-term exposure to either PM 10 or PM 2.5 particles can take a major toll on human health. Here are some of the top risks that come from inhaling PM over sustained periods. 

Cardiovascular Issues

Regardless of size, PM can have drastic effects on the human heart and cardiovascular system. 

For example, inhaling PM 2.5 can result in heart disease, coronary artery disease, or significantly increase the chances of a heart attack. PM 2.5 is particularly dangerous given it's much smaller. After entering the lungs, the particles are small enough to pass into the bloodstream, where they can clog arteries and other serious heart damage. 

PM 10 poses a less serious threat to heart health but can cause irregular heartbeat and aggravate existing cardiovascular diseases.

Overall, PM can create or intensify pulmonary disease and conditions that result in lower life expectancy or death. 

Respiratory Issues

PMs below 10 micrometers pass straight through the nostrils and into the respiratory system. From there, it can severely damage or hinder lung capacity and functionality and exacerbate a host of respiratory diseases and conditions including: 

● Asthma 

● Chronic Bronchitis

● Airway inflammation

Lung Cancer

Researchers continue discovering how prolonged exposure to PM can lead to changes in cells that lead to critical, and potentially terminal, lung disease. PM 2.5 is especially dangerous, as it embeds itself deep within lung tissue, where it mutates cells that eventually become cancerous. 

How To Monitor Particulate Matter

Particulate matter comes from many sources, meaning it's critical for property owners to employ a systemic approach to monitoring its origins. It's also important to remember that no matter what, you'll have some PM in the air. However, PM only gets dangerous once it breaches 12 micrograms per cubic meter over a 24-hour period. To know where your air stands, you must implement a monitoring strategy. 

One method is to install individual monitors around the building that check for PMs like mold, mildew, CO2, pollen, and nitrogen oxide. However, individual sensors are siloed and unreliable, ultimately failing to provide you with a well-rounded understanding of your entire building's indoor air quality (IAQ). 

The most effective and cost-friendly way to analyze IAQ is via a system of particle matter sensors to track and report data in real time. These IoT solutions are powerful and reliable and work as a cohesive unit to test indoor air and issue immediate air quality alerts after detecting concerning levels of particulate matter. 

Strategies to Reduce Exposure to Particulate Matter

Thankfully, building managers aren't helpless when attempting to reduce airborne particulate matter. The first step of any working strategy is to take a proactive approach to indoor air monitoring, installing a system that tracks the concentration of particulate matter throughout an entire building.

With more data to work with, you can identify the source of the particulate matter and work on additional strategies, such as:

● Reduce sources of PM: Often high PM originates from sources like cooking, carpentry, household cleaning products and sprays, and excessive outdoor air from vehicle exhaust.

● Increase ventilation and filtration efforts: Use exhaust fans in kitchens when gas stoves are on or keep windows open for at least 15 minutes daily (if outdoor conditions are safe).

● Use proper air cleaning techniques: Use air filters with higher MERV ratings and change them every month; also consider investing in portable air contamination purifiers for areas with higher PM

Get the Most Accurate Indoor PM sensors

Particulate matter is no joke, and building managers must take advantage of the right technological solutions to identify and eradicate dangerous particles from indoor air. 

Attune's indoor air quality solutions stand as one of the market's top solutions for air quality level analysis, funneling real-time reports directly to your smartphone or laptop. Simply install a network of sensors and begin tracking PM data that very day. 

Visit our page to discover more about our indoor air quality solutions, or sign up for a free demo to see it in action for yourself.