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Effects of Particulate Matter

According to the Environmental Protection Agency, particulate matter "is the term for a mixture of solid particles and liquid droplets found in the air." These particles come in different sizes. Some are coarse, measuring over 2.5 micrometers. Fine particles measure less than 10 micrometers. Particulate matter affects the health of people and the environment.

  1. Visibility

    • Particulate matter reduces the visual range by decreasing visibility. This environmental effect is known as haze. Haze is the result of a mixture of sunlight and small pollution particles in the air. These pollutants come from a wide variety of sources including power plants, industrial processes, fossil fuel combustion, and wood smoke. Particulate matter can also be formed from gases like nitrogen oxides and carbon dioxide. The EPA states that the visibility in many parts of the U.S. has been reduced by as much 70 percent. According to the EPA, particulate matter tends to stay in the air for a long time and is able to travel long distances. Particulate matter in the air is also responsible for defacing or soiling the surface of structures like buildings and statues.

    Acid Rain

    • Acid rain is a term used to describe harmful rains with elevated levels of acidity. Normal rainwater contains some level of acidity that is measured by pH. The pH range is from 0 to 14, with 7 as the neutral point. The more acidic the water, the further down the scale the pH level of water plummets. Acid rain is the result of a mixture of substances, including particulate matter. Sulfur dioxide, carbon monoxide, lead, chlorofluorocarbons and carbon dioxide all combine to form acid rain. Acid rain affects living organisms like fish and plants; it seeps into trees and plants, causing poor yield, stunted growth and even death. It also affects fish and other aquatic animals by changing the acidic level of their natural habitats.

    Children

    • Children and the elderly are more susceptible to the effects of acid rain. Reports by the EPA found that children are most susceptible because their lungs are not fully developed. Children who are exposed to particulate matter develop more childhood diseases, including respiratory conditions like reduced lung function. Exposure to particulate matter also causes chest pain and aggravated coughing in children. There is also a link between higher incidences of asthma in children and exposure to particulate matter.

    The Elderly

    • EPA states that thousands of elderly people die annually from exposure to high levels of fine particulate matter. Inhaling fine particulate matter aggravates the symptoms of heart and lung disease among those with preexisting conditions. Other diseases associated with exposure to particulate matter include emphysema and chronic bronchitis.

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