WHAT ARE PM 2.5 AND PM 10? WHAT IS THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN THEM?

• Epidemiologists divide particulate matter into two main categories: PM 2.5 and PM 10. PM literally means particulate matter.PM 2.5 and PM 10 are invisible but lethal.
• PM 2.5 are 2.5 micrometres in diameter or smaller, which is around 3 percent of the diameter of a human hair. They are only detectable under a microscope. PM 2.5 are produced from all types of combustion, including motor vehicles, power plants, residential wood burning, forest fires, agricultural burning, and some industrial processes. Sadly, it is precisely because PM 2.5 are so small that they penetrate deep into the respiratory tract, bypassing your system’s defences, reaching the lungs. Your body simply isn’t designed to block PM 2.5. They are lighter and go deeper into our body than PM 10, causing greater damage to our health; they also stay in the air longer and travel farther.
• Coarse dust particulate matter (PM 10), on the other hand, are less than 10 micrometres in diameter. Sources include crushing or grinding operations and dust stirred up by vehicles on roads. These small particles, 30 times smaller than the width of a hair on your head, are small enough to get caught up in our defensive nose hairs and into the upper airways of our lungs.
• PM 10 irritates human airways, especially among asthmatics and the elderly. They make your eyes burn and throat dry. Public health experts, however, are less concerned about these larger forms of particulate matter because your body’s defences are reasonably effective against them. Tiny hairs along the respiratory tract block a portion of PM 10. Fortunately, you can also cough and sneeze some of it out. And your throat’s mucus elevator ejects some of it back out of your mouth or harmlessly into your digestive tract.
• PM 2.5 particles can linger for days or (weather permitting) up to weeks while, PM 10 particles can stay in the air for minutes, perhaps up to a couple of hours.

Preventive measures from Air Pollution

• People should use masks to avoid air pollution and should consult a doctor if problem is severe.
• Avoid exercising outside when the pollution level is high.
• Do not burn wood or thrash because these particles are the main source of pollution.
• Do not smoke at both indoor and outdoor places.
• To keep your indoor space safe from air pollution, you can also use air purifier. Air purifier can reduce the rate of air pollution inside your home.
• If air pollution lasts for several days, then change the place for some time.

How much level of PM2.5 and PM10 should be there in the air?

• Normal level of PM10 should be 100 micrograms cubic metre and PM2.5 level should be 60 microgram cubic meter.
• As we know that the level of PM2.5 and PM10 in the air is increasing which is causing air pollution and on the other hand risk of diseases is also emerging day by day. So, we should take precautions like use mask etc.