PM2.5
Microscopic airborne pollutants
PM2.5 refers to fine particulate matter with a diameter of 2.5 micrometers or less—about thirty times smaller than a human hair.
These microscopic particles from vehicle exhaust, wildfires, and industrial emissions penetrate deep into the lungs and bloodstream.
Air quality reports track PM2.5 levels because elevated concentrations pose serious health risks: The PM2.5 reading hit 150 today.
Sunlight-activated urban pollution
- hazeMurky atmospheric suspension
- emissionsSubstances released into air
- exhaustUse up entirely
- combustionExothermic reaction with oxygen
industrial · fossil fuels · vehicle emissions · coal burning · wood smoke · wildfire smoke · traffic · diesel
Tiny suspended matter
- aerosolMist in gas
- sootCarbon from incomplete burning
- dustFine settled particles
- nanoparticlesUltrafine material fragments
microscopic · microns · ultrafine · airborne · suspended · carbonaceous · sulfate · nitrate
Related to breathing organs
- cardiovascularOf heart and blood vessels
- asthmaChronic lung inflammation
- bronchitisInflamed airway disease
- lung cancerMalignant growth in chest
heart disease · stroke · mortality · morbidity · inflammation · premature death · hospitalization · chronic exposure
Scale measuring atmospheric pollution levels
- AQIAtmospheric pollution scale
- standardsAccepted levels of quality
- guidelinesSuggested rules for behavior
- WHOUN health authority
EPA · threshold · exceedance · attainment · compliance · policy · mitigation · control measures
Ongoing observation of something
- sensorsDevices that detect input
- samplersAssortments for tasting or testing
- opticalOf vision or light
- speciationFormation of distinct species
micrograms · concentration · real-time · continuous · calibration · data quality · network · stations
smog
Sunlight-activated urban pollution
combustion · industrial · fossil fuels · vehicle emissions · coal burning · wood smoke · wildfire smoke · traffic · diesel · power plants
particulate
Tiny suspended matter
nanoparticles · microscopic · microns · ultrafine · airborne · suspended · carbonaceous · sulfate · nitrate · respirable
respiratory
Related to breathing organs
- cardiovascularOf heart and blood vessels
- asthmaChronic lung inflammation
- bronchitisInflamed airway disease
lung cancer · heart disease · stroke · mortality · morbidity · inflammation · premature death · hospitalization · chronic exposure · vulnerable populations
air quality index
Scale measuring atmospheric pollution levels
- AQIAtmospheric pollution scale
- standardsAccepted levels of quality
- guidelinesSuggested rules for behavior
WHO · EPA · threshold · exceedance · attainment · compliance · policy · mitigation · control measures · permits
monitoring
Ongoing observation of something
speciation · micrograms · concentration · real-time · continuous · calibration · data quality · network · stations
- air pollutionsmog, air pollution, emissions, air pollutants, pollutants
- pollutionair pollution, water pollution, soil pollution, smog, toxic waste
- Air Pollutantssmoke, smog, soot, exhaust, fumes
- airborne particlesdust particles, dust, particulates, aerosol, particulate matter
- industrial pollutionemissions, air pollution, pollutants, soot, smog
- pollution metricsAQI, air quality index, particulate matter, carbon monoxide, nitrogen dioxide
PM2.5clean air
Uncontaminated breathable gas
fresh air · pure air · unpolluted air · zero emissions · breathable air