Those of us who enjoy the luxuries today are in a deep slumber.
And, those who can use the new conveniences are satisfied that they are experiencing so much change within a single lifetime. Forgetting not just the poor whom we are so religiously making to pay the most, but also the future lives of our children.
The cost of these luxuries and conveniences is huge.
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We are constantly risking our health, environment, and survival on Earth. This fast-paced ‘development’ by nations is exponentially polluting the land, air, and water. Particulate matter air pollution is one of the worst side effects. Awake…
This post was first written for Youth For Change of Greenpeace India.
Feature image by Josh Hild on Unsplash
What is particulate matter (PM)
Particulate matter, abbreviated as PM, or particulates refers to extremely small solid particles and liquid droplets that remain suspended in the air for considerable periods. Their components include chemicals, metals, and acids among others. We also refer to particulate matter as ‘particle pollution’ because these particles are contaminants that pollute the air we breathe.
Examples of particulate pollutants include particles “such as dust, dirt, soot, or smoke, which are large or dark enough to be seen with the naked eye. Others are so small they can only be detected using an electron microscope.” (Source: US EPA)
Types of particulate matter in air
There are three categories of all particulate matter in the air:
- Primary particulate matter: These are the particles released directly from human activities and natural sources.
- Secondary particulate matter: These are formed from the primary particles through chemical and physical reactions with each other.
- Re-suspended particles: Gravity forces the above particles to settle to the earth’s surface. But atmospheric turbulences then again lift them into the air.
What are PM10 and PM2.5
Particulate matter in air pollution is generally found to be 10 micrometers or smaller in diameter. These inhalable particles are then classified into the following two groups:
- PM10 – Diameter 10 micrometers or smaller, but larger than 2.5 micrometers. Found as in dust.
- PM2.5 – Diameter 2.5 micrometers or smaller. Found as in smoke and haze.
An average human head hair has a diameter of about 70 micrometers, which makes it 7 times larger than the largest PM10 particle. You can thus imagine how small PM2.5 can be…

Image source: ResearchGate
Sources or causes of particulate matter in the air
Broadly there are two sources or causes of the particulate matter polluting our air:
- Natural – Examples of natural sources are soil erosion, volcanic eruptions, dust storms, and forest fires.
- Anthropogenic (caused by human activity) – Examples include road transport, industrial processes, agriculture, and domestic combustions.
The natural causes as above contribute highly to particulate matter air pollution. Like, strong winds pick up large quantities of dust particles that remain suspended in the atmosphere for years before they settle back to the earth’s surface. But we should be more concerned about man-made causes as these have now become the primary source and we can control them.
How humans contribute to polluting air with particulates
We execute many processes and projects for human welfare. The irony is these are actually responsible for many diseases and countless deaths, especially in the bigger cities. Following are some of the human activities that emit toxic and hazardous particles on a large scale into the air:
- Combustion/ burning of wood, oil, and coal produces pollutants like carbon monoxide and soot.
- Construction of roads and buildings and demolition projects throw huge amounts of small-sized dust particles into the air.
- Even the microscopic dust pollutants that cover the already constructed roads keep getting into the atmosphere due to fast rotating tires of moving vehicles.
- Power plants burning fossil fuels continuously produce huge plumes of smoke-containing pollutants.
- Agricultural activities contribute to air pollution with the usage of liquid jets and sprayers.
- Manufacturing units keep dispersing toxic fumes into air, land, and water bodies.
- Smoking of tobacco by millions globally produces smoke containing a large number of toxic chemicals.
Hazards of particulate matter air pollution
The particulates, especially the tiniest particles, PM2.5, are considered the most hazardous of air pollutants. Under normal circumstances, these lightweight particles remain suspended in the air for very long. So we inhale them more. This is coupled with their ability to penetrate deep into the lungs and bloodstream, potentially affecting human beings and other animals with serious illnesses.
How does particulate matter affect human health?
At an initial level, exposure to particulates can cause irritation in the eyes, nose, and throat. It can also result in “increased respiratory symptoms, such as irritation of the airways, coughing or difficulty breathing”. Numerous scientific studies have further found the following adverse effects on the health of human beings:
- Decreased lung function – Small particles less than 10 micrometers in diameter can easily enter deep into the human respiratory system, affect bronchi, and cause lung disease.
- Aggravated asthma – Doctors link the rising cases of asthma to the rise of fine particulates at the global level.
- Non-fatal heart attacks – Some fine particulates can even penetrate into our bloodstream. Continuous inhalation of these particles can also result in the blockages of arteries and cause serious heart issues.
- Failed pregnancy and birth defects – Particularly in cities with rising air pollution, long exposure to particulate pollutants has resulted in failed pregnancies in mothers. Otherwise, the harmful chemicals that enter their bodies can cause a variety of defects in newborn children.
- Premature deaths in people with lung or heart disease – Serious health effects created by particulate pollution as above are responsible for many of the premature deaths that take place in India and the world over.
As per US EPA, people with existing heart or lung diseases, children, and older adults are the most likely to be affected by particle pollution exposure.
How does particulate matter affect our environment
In addition to the adverse health effects on humans and other living beings, high levels of particulate matter and air pollution also adversely affect our environment in the following ways.
- Particulate matter air pollution contributes to climate change. It can change weather patterns at regional levels. For example, particulate matter “suppresses evaporation of water from the Indian Ocean leading to more lackluster Indian Monsoons”.
- Lack or absence of adequate rainfall as in the above example can cause droughts.
- It causes or worsens acid rain.
- It contributes to the greenhouse effect and global warming, making the polar ice melt and the global sea level rise.
- The carbon dioxide particulates make the oceans acidic and thus harm the sea life.
Particulate matter air pollution in India
India is the second most polluted country on Earth. Especially in Indian cities, due to the fast rate of urbanization and growth, air pollution is now severely endangering people’s health, environment, and quality of life.
“The average Indian life expectancy is 5.2 years shorter than it would be if the World Health Organization (WHO) guidelines were followed, and 2.3 years shorter than it would be if pollution was lowered to meet the country’s own national standard.” So, we must be very serious about it now.
The average yearly particulate pollution in India has grown by 42% in the last 24 years. As per the 2021 revised air quality criteria of the World Health Organization (WHO), the whole Indian population is now living in either unsafe or hazardous levels of air pollution.
Poor suffering the most due to PM2.5 pollution in India
As per a paper published in the journal Nature Sustainability, indirect emission through transport and manufacturing contributes almost twice as much to ambient PM2.5 concentrations as direct emissions from biomass cookstoves. High-income households being primary consumers are indirectly responsible for this menace. And its health impacts and mortality risks are disproportionately shouldered by the low-income population.
How can India reduce the particulate air pollution
The good thing is that both citizens and the government of India can effectively work to reduce the particulate matter in our air so that their health and that of future generations are made safer.
- Since fossil fuel combustion is one of the main contributors to particulate pollution in the air, we need to move to cleaner alternatives.
- Diesel engines in vehicles are a massive source of fine particulates, so we require cleaner alternatives to these as well.
- At the citizens’ level, a few effective measures in keeping the air in India clean include changing conveyance habits to walking, biking, and carpooling. And, government can contribute by motivating its people toward this change and developing walking and cycling lanes in more and more Indian cities.
- Government can take steps to make people reduce the burning of fossil fuels at home wherever possible.
- It can encourage farmers to not burn agricultural waste in fields by educating them about alternative processes like mulching or composting, taking any other effective measures as suggested by experts in this field, and making available the right machinery to facilitate these changes.
- The World Health Organization (WHO) released revised Global Air Quality Guidelines in 2021, announcing more stringent limits for pollutants including particulate matter. The Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) should revise India’s National Ambient Air Quality Standards accordingly.
It’s high time we wake up to challenge the menace of particulate matter in our air. We should put pressure on the CPCB to take action as above at the earliest by signing the petition here.
SOURCES
https://www.epa.gov/pm-pollution/particulate-matter-pm-basics#PM
https://www.epa.gov/pm-pollution/health-and-environmental-effects-particulate-matter-pm
https://cleanair.camfil.us/2018/01/22/avoiding-the-harmful-impacts-of-particulate-matter-pollution/
https://www.wionews.com/india-news/air-quality-index-india-worlds-second-most-polluted-country-415692

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