Where It Comes From
Residential wood stoves, industrial boilers, diesel and gasoline engines, coal/oil burning, cooking, and tobacco smoke; gases condense after dilution and cooling [1][2][4].
How You Are Exposed
Breathing outdoor air near traffic or industry, during wildfires, and indoors from cooking, candles, and unvented or poorly vented heaters [1][2][5].
Why It Matters
Fine particles reach deep into the lungs and can enter the bloodstream, worsening asthma and COPD, triggering heart attacks and stroke, and increasing premature death; outdoor PM is carcinogenic [1][2][3].
Who Is at Risk
Children, older adults, pregnant people, and those with asthma, COPD, heart disease, or diabetes; and communities near busy roads or industrial sources [1][2].
How to Lower Your Exposure
Check the Air Quality Index (AQI) and limit strenuous activity when PM is high; use a HEPA air cleaner; ventilate and maintain stoves; avoid indoor burning; during smoke events, close windows, run HVAC on recirculate with good filters, and consider a well-fitting N95 [1][2][5].
References
- [1]U.S. EPA. Particle Pollution and Your Health. https://www.epa.gov/pm-pollution
- [2]WHO. Ambient (outdoor) air pollution: Key facts. https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/ambient-(outdoor)-air-quality-and-health
- [3]IARC. Outdoor air pollution and particulate matter are carcinogenic (Group 1). https://www.iarc.who.int/wp-content/uploads/2018/07/pr221_E.pdf
- [4]U.S. EPA. Method 202: Condensable Particulate Matter. https://www.epa.gov/emc/method-202-condensable-particulate-matter
- [5]CDC. Protect Yourself from Wildfire Smoke. https://www.cdc.gov/air/wildfire-smoke/