airborne contaminants
Inhaled harmful particles
Airborne contaminants are unwanted substances suspended in the air—dust, pollen, mold spores, smoke particles, chemical vapors, or microorganisms.
The term appears in discussions of indoor air quality, workplace safety, and environmental health: The ventilation system filters out airborne contaminants.
Exposure can cause respiratory problems, allergic reactions, or more serious illness depending on the substance and concentration.
- pollenFloral reproductive grains
- dust mitesMicroscopic skin-eating arachnids
- mold sporesReproductive fungal cells
- sootCarbon from incomplete burning
- smokeAirborne combustion byproduct
secondhand smoke · dust · ash · wildfire smoke · combustion engines · car exhaust · diesel fumes · microplastics · carbon monoxide · ozone · endotoxins · bacteria · sulfur dioxide · formaldehyde · viruses · agricultural activities · benzene · industrial emissions
airborne contaminantsclean air
Uncontaminated breathable gas
pure air · fresh air · pure oxygen · breathable air · mountain air