Coarse (bigger) particles, called PM10, can irritate your eyes, nose, and throat. Dust from roads, farms, dry riverbeds, construction sites, and mines are types of PM10. Fine (smaller) particles, called PM2.5, are more dangerous because they can get into the deep parts of your lungs — or even into your blood.
Coarse particles (also known as PM10-2.5): particles with diameters generally larger than 2.5 µm and smaller than, or equal to, 10 µm in diameter.
Fine particulate matter (PM2.5) is an air pollutant that is a concern for people's health when levels in air are high. PM2.5 are tiny particles in the air that reduce visibility and cause the air to appear hazy when levels are elevated.
What Are the Different Categories of Particulate Matter?Mold spores.Bacteria.Dust.Smoke.Airborne viral particles.
Coarse particles have an aerodynamic diameter ranging from 2.5 to 10µm (PM10-2.5), which distinguishes them from the smaller airborne particulate matter referred to as fine (PM2. 5) and ultrafine particles (PM0. 1).
What is Fine Dust? Fine Dust, specifically known as PM2. 5, is particulate matter that can be found in the air that is incredibly small — a single particle has a diameter of less than 2.5 micrometers, which means you can easily fit 40 fine dust particles across the width of a single strand of hair.
So, PM10 refers to particles with an aerodynamic diameter smaller than 10 μm, and PM2. 5 refers to particles with an aerodynamic diameter smaller than 2.5 μm. You may also hear PM10 called coarse dust and PM2. 5 called fine dust.
particulate matterPM 2.5 filters are lightweight filters that can be placed inside a regular reusable mask to add more layers of breathable protection. PM stands for particulate matter, meaning they can filter out fine particles at 2.5 microns in diameter.
Air quality standards The Clean Air Act regulates two sizes of particulate matter: PM2.5 (fine particles) and PM10. PM2.5 includes particulate matter that is less than 2.5 microns in diameter; PM10 includes all particulate matter less than 10 microns in diameter (including PM2.5).
Particulate matter on the basis of size can fall into two different categories:Inhalable coarse particles: The diameter size of the particles range from 2.5 to 10 micrometers (PM10 – 2.5).Fine Particles: Usually found in haze and smoke and the size can range up to 2.5 micrometers (PM).
Natural sources of PM include sea salt, dust (airborne soil, also called crustal material), secondary sulphate, pollen, black carbon from wild fires, and volcanic ash.
EPA groups particle pollution into two categories: "Inhalable coarse particles," such as those found near roadways and dusty industries, are larger than 2.5 micrometers and smaller than 10 micrometers in diameter. "Fine particles," such as those found in smoke and haze, are 2.5 micrometers in diameter and smaller.