What is the PM2.5 particulate matter and why is it harmful?
PM2.5 particulate matter
The term PM2.5 comes from English “Particulate Matter” and refers to airborne fine particles or droplets. “2.5” is their size. PM2.5 particles are smaller than or equal to two and a half microns. They are therefore tiny pollution particles that are impossible to observe with the naked eye.
Where do PM2.5 particles come from?
There are outdoor and indoor sources of 2.5 fine particles. Outdoors, fine particles are mainly due to car, lorry, bus and other vehicle (e.g. construction equipment, snowmobile, locomotive) exhausts, and other operations involving the combustion of fuels such as wood, fuel oil or coal, and from natural sources such as forest and grass fires.
PM2.5 is also formed as an effect of the reaction of gases or droplets in the atmosphere from sources such as power stations. Such chemical reactions can occur many kilometres away from the original source of the emissions. If PM2.5 is emitted in Paris, it is very likely to be found in Versailles and the whole Paris surrounding area of Île de France.
Since fine particles can be transported over long distances from their source, events such as forest fires or volcanic eruptions can increase concentrations of fine particles hundreds of kilometres from the source.
PM2.5 is also produced by common indoor human and domestic activities. Domestic sources of fine particles include smoking tobacco, cooking (such as frying), lighting candles or oil lamps, chimney fires and fuel-burning heating appliances (such as kerosene heaters).
The danger of fine particles
Who can be affected?
The circulation of fine particles is anything but harmless. Everyone is affected by pollution due to such particles, but certain individuals may be more affected than others. People most likely to have their health affected by PM2.5 pollution are:
- People suffering from heart or lung disease (asthma, hypertension, etc.)
- Elderly people
- Infants and children
If you suffer from asthma, particle pollution can aggravate your symptoms, particularly during pollution peaks.
What are the symptoms?
Even if you are in good health, you may experience symptoms such as eye, nose and throat irritation, coughing, phlegm, suffocating pressure on your chest and breathlessness. Symptoms should disappear when the air quality improves.
How can you combat this air contamination on your own level?
Thankfully, you do not have to sit idly, as you can protect yourself and your loved ones from the health effects caused by fine particle pollution.
- Firstly, stay in a place where the air is filtered, as particle pollution can get inside homes and vehicles.
- If you can, get an air purifier that eliminates fine particles inside your home.
- And above all, if you take the car, remember to change your cabin filter regularly, because the air breathed inside your vehicle can be up to 4 times more polluted than outside. This is especially true when you get stuck in traffic jams, as constantly braking and restarting cars contributes to increasing fine particles. So you absolutely need a high-quality cabin filter and/or change yours regularly to protect yourself.
It is therefore high time to take care of your health and that starts in the cabin of your vehicle.
To do this, consider our new range of high-tech CabinHepa+ filters!