PARTICULATE MATTER - PM (coming soon)
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Particulate Matter - PM
Particulate matter (PM) is a mixture of small solid particles with different chemical compositions that are smaller than 10 micrometres.
What is particulate matter?
Fine dust is a form of air pollution that consists of microscopic solid particles smaller than 10 micrometres. These particles vary in size, origin and chemical composition. Part of the particulate matter comes from natural sources such as windblown dust and sea salt. But most particulate matter enters the air from human sources. Major sources of fine dust are traffic and combustion processes in industry, but livestock farms, agriculture and wood combustion are also sources of emissions.
Fine dust can be divided into two different fractions: a primary and a secondary fraction. The primary fraction is due to human and natural sources through which particulate matter enters the air. The secondary fraction consists of the chemical reactions in the atmosphere that release particulate matter. These chemical reactions mainly involve ammonia (NH3), nitrogen oxides (NOX), sulphur dioxide (SO2) and volatile organic compounds (VOCs).
Fine dust can be divided into two different fractions: a primary and a secondary fraction. The primary fraction is due to human and natural sources through which particulate matter enters the air. The secondary fraction consists of the chemical reactions in the atmosphere that release particulate matter. These chemical reactions mainly involve ammonia (NH3), nitrogen oxides (NOX), sulphur dioxide (SO2) and volatile organic compounds (VOCs).
What is the problem of particulate matter
Many areas contain more fine dust than the World Health Organisation recommends for human health. This causes major problems for public health.
What particulate matter does to nature
Air pollution is harmful to people and nature. Particulate matter is one of the substances that contributes to smog in the air. Some particulate matter also contributes to the greenhouse effect because it absorbs heat. The harmful effects of particulate matter are mainly in the area of health, where nature helps to filter particulate matter from the air.
What particulate matter does to human health
Particulate matter is not good for your health; the size of the particles affects where particulate matter ends up in the airways. Particulate matter in the air can cause asthma/attacks, tightness of the chest and coughing. Particulate matter is also one of the causes of cardiovascular disease. The greater the concentration of fine dust, the greater the negative health effects. The long-term effects of exposure to fine dust even include dementia, diabetes and a reduced life span.
How can satellite data help with the particulate matter problem?
Health effects may recover if people move to an area with cleaner air. We therefore need to reduce the emission of particulate matter. Satellite data provides a good insight into the concentrations of particulate matter in an area. Satellite data also makes it possible to properly test policy decisions. With this particulate data, measures can be monitored and their effect on air quality can be assessed.
In short:
- Particulate matter (PM) is a mixture of small solid particles smaller than 10 micrometres.
- Many areas contain more fine dust than the World Health Organisation recommends.
- Large sources of fine dust are traffic and combustion processes in industry.
- Livestock farms, agriculture and wood combustion are also sources of emissions.
- Particulate matter in the air can cause asthma/attacks, tightness of the chest and coughing.
- The long-term effects of exposure to fine dust even include dementia, diabetes and a reduced life span.
- There is far too much particulate matter in the Netherlands.
- Satellite data can help to reduce the fine dust in the air.
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