Air Education
GENERAL OVERVIEW
What is PM?
Particulate Matter (PM) consists of small particles and liquid droplets suspended in the air. Their chemical properties are determined by the composition of these solid and liquid particles. We measure PM using two categories: 2.5 to 10 micrometers in diameter (PM10), and 2.5 micrometers or smaller in diameter (PM2.5). The national standard for PM2.5 is 12 micrograms per meter cubed and for PM10 is 35 micrograms per meter cubed.
Environmental and Health Concerns
PM, when inhaled, possesses a risk of aggravating or causing cardiorespiratory problems: asthma, lung and heart disease, difficulty breathing, and irritation. The smaller the particle, the deeper it can penetrate your lungs, or even your blood stream. For this reason, PM2.5 poses a greater health risk than PM10, pollen, or other large dust particles. Environmentally, the chemical composition of PM can contribute to chemical weathering, crop damage, and alter the pH of aquatic ecosystems. The EPA provides more information here.
How Do We Report Air Quality?
The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) establishes a National Ambient Air Quality Standard (NAAQS) for five major air pollutants (ozone, particulate matter, carbon monoxide, sulfur dioxide, and nitrogen dioxide), regulated by the Clean Air Act. These standards are used to establish the U.S Air Quality Index (AQI), a reporting index that categorizes the air into six degrees of health concern. For, the AQI criteria for “Good”, satisfactory air with little or no risk, is 12.0 micrograms per meter cubed. Anything beyond this threshold introduces risk to sensitive groups, such as those with asthma, as air quality decreases further.
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Good: The air poses no risk.
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Moderate: For most people, the air poses no risk. The air may be hazardous for a very small number of people sensitive to specific irritants.
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Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups: For most people, the air poses no risk. The air is hazardous for young children, older adults, and those with heart and/or lung conditions. Good: The air poses no risk.
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Unhealthy: Most people will start experiencing negative effects from the air. Sensitive groups will have more severe symptoms.
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Very Unhealthy: Everyone will experience more serious symptoms.
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Hazardous: Entire population will be extremely negatively affected.
Videos
For more videos and updates, subscribe to the Saikawa Lab YouTube channel.
Air Pollution 101
Air Pollution & Environmental Health
Air Quality Index
Air Pollution Mitigation
Air Quality Monitors
Additional Videos
Air Quality 101
Watch the educational video to see Eleanor Partington, an Emory University student researcher, teach about air quality!
Regulatory Air Monitors
Watch the educational video to see Eleanor Partington, an Emory University student researcher, explain what Regulatory Air Monitors are!
To view air sensor systems, visit our Map page.
To learn more about low cost sensors, visit our Sensors page.
Environmental Justice and Atlanta
Watch the educational video to see Eleanor Partington, an Emory University student researcher, teach about environmental justice.
Educational Resources
Learn about the environment and what we can do to improve it using the educational resources from Saikawa Lab's Teachers Workshop
Air Polution 101
An introductory module going over the definition, history, and science of air pollution, as well as regulations in the US to mitigate the problem.
Air Quality Index
A module covering what AQI is and how air quality has been measured throughout history.
Air Pollution Mitigation
A module explaining the science and sociopolitical strategies of how society addresses air pollution in the US and abroad.