Particulate Matter (PM)

Particle pollution presents a serious air quality problem. Particle pollution is produced by a wide variety of
natural and manmade sources, including factories, power plants, trash incinerators, motor vehicles
(especially diesel engines), construction activity, fires, and natural windblown dust. In the wintertime, a
particular concern is fine particles released by smoke from fireplaces, wood stoves and outdoor burning.
This smoke can accumulate, especially in low-lying areas, when a temperature inversion traps a layer of
cold air near the ground.

What is PM?
PM, also known as particle pollution, is a complex mixture of air-borne particles and liquid droplets
composed of acids (such as nitrates and sulfates), ammonium, water, black (or "elemental") carbon,
organic chemicals, metals, and soil (crustal) material.

EPA groups particle pollution into two categories:

 "Coarse particles" (PM10-2.5) such as those found near roadways and dusty industries range in
diameter from 2.5 to 10 micrometers (or microns). The existing "coarse" particle standard (known
as PM10) includes all particles less than 10 microns in size.
 "Fine particles" (or PM2.5) such as those found in smoke and haze have diameters less than 2.5
microns.

PM2.5 is referred to as "primary" if it is directly emitted into the air as solid or liquid particles, and is
called "secondary" if it is formed by chemical reactions of gases in the atmosphere. Major sources of
primary fine particles include cars and trucks (especially those with diesel engines); open burning;
wildfires; fireplaces, woodstoves, and outdoor wood boilers (also called hydronic heaters); cooking; dust
from roads and construction; agricultural operations; and coal and oil-burning boilers. Major sources of
secondary fine particles are power plants and some industrial processes, including oil refining and pulp
and paper production.

How Does PM Affect Human Health?

Health studies have shown a significant association between exposure to particle pollution and health
risks, including premature death. Health effects may include cardiovascular effects such as cardiac
arrhythmias and heart attacks, and respiratory effects such as asthma attacks and bronchitis. Exposure to
particle pollution can result in increased hospital admissions, emergency room visits, absences from
school or work, and restricted activity days, especially for those with pre-existing heart or lung disease,
older people, and children.

The size of particles is directly linked to their potential for causing health problems. Fine particles (PM2.5)
pose the greatest health risk. These fine particles can get deep into lungs and some may even get into the
bloodstream. Exposure to these particles can affect a person's lungs and heart. Coarse particles (PM 10-2.5)
are of less concern, although they can irritate a person's eyes, nose, and throat. The EPA document Particle
Pollution and Your Health (PDF) (2 pp, 320 K, about PDF) explains more about who is at risk from
exposure to fine and coarse particles, and includes simple measures that can be taken to reduce health
risks.
What are the Air Quality Standards for PM?

National air-quality standards for PM were first established in 1971 and were not significantly revised
until 1987 when EPA changed the indicator to focus on "inhalable particles", which are particles equal to
or smaller than 10 microns (PM10).

In July 1997, after evaluating hundreds of health studies and conducting an extensive peer-review process,
EPA established PM standards that specifically addressed particles smaller than 2.5 microns (PM2.5). The
annual standard was set at 15 micrograms per cubic meter (μg/m3), based on the 3-year average of annual
mean PM2.5 concentrations. The 24-hour standard was set at 65 μg/m3 based on the 3-year average of the
annual 98th percentile concentrations. The 1997 standards retained, but slightly revised, standards for
PM10, which limited PM10 concentrations to 50μg/m3 based on an annual average, and 150μg/m3 based on
a 24-hour average.

Since 1997, EPA has evaluated thousands of new studies on PM and, in September, 2006; EPA revised
the PM standards by lowering the level of the 24-hour PM2.5 standard to 35μg/m3 and retaining the level of
the annual PM2.5 standard at 15μg/m3. The Agency retained the 24-hour PM10 standard of 150μg/m3.
However, the annual PM10 standard was revoked because of a lack of evidence establishing a link between
long-term exposure to coarse particles and health problems. The secondary standards continue to be
identical to the primary standards. Primary standards set limits to protect public health, including the
health of "sensitive" populations such as asthmatics, children, and the elderly. Secondary standards set
limits to protect public welfare, including protection against decreased visibility, damage to animals,
crops, vegetation, and buildings. The 2006 revised PM standards became effective in December 2006.

In February 2009, the US Court of Appeals for the DC Circuit remanded the 2006 PM2.5 standards after a
challenge to the standards by several environmental groups and states. By remanding, rather that vacating,
the standards, the Court left the standard intact while EPA reconsiders the standard. Under the Clean Air
Act, EPA is required to review and, if necessary, revise air-quality standards for criteria pollutants,
including PM, every five years. Therefore, reconsideration of the 2006 PM 2.5 standard was done at the
same time as this five-year review.

On December 14, 2012, EPA finalized an update to the National Ambient Air Quality Standard for PM 2.5.
The annual standard was reduced from 15μg/m3 to 12μg/m3. The daily PM2.5 standard and standards for
PM10 were retained. The revised 2012 PM standard became effective on March 18, 2013.
NAAQS Table
.The EPA has set National Ambient Air Quality Standards for six principal pollutants, which are called
"criteria" air pollutants. Periodically, the standards are reviewed and may be revised. The current
standards are listed below. Units of measure for the standards are parts per million (ppm) by volume, parts
per billion (ppb) by volume, and micrograms per cubic meter of air (µg/m3).

Primary/
Pollutant Averaging Time Level
Secondary

8 hours 9 ppm
Carbon Monoxide (CO) primary
1 hour 35 ppm

primary and
Lead (Pb) Rolling 3 month average 0.15 μg/m3 (1)
secondary

primary 1 hour 100 ppb

Nitrogen Dioxide (NO2)
primary and
1 year 53 ppb (2)
secondary

primary and
Ozone (O3) 8 hours 0.070 ppm (3)
secondary

primary 1 year 12.0 μg/m3

PM2.5 secondary 1 year 15.0 μg/m3

Particle Pollution (PM)
primary and
24 hours 35 μg/m3
secondary

primary and
PM10 24 hours 150 μg/m3
secondary

primary 1 hour 75 ppb (4)

Sulfur Dioxide (SO2)

secondary 3 hours 0.5 ppm