What are PM2.5 and PM10? – Find Out What You Are Breathing

What are PM2.5 and PM10? – Find Out What You Are Breathing

When the civil movement “Gavigudet” talks about air pollution, we mainly focus on PM2.5 and PM10.

Why? – For Rustavi, the smallest solid particles (PM) are the most problematic pollutants, which is mainly caused by the activities of enterprises located in the Rustavi industrial zone. The solids (mostly dust particles) which is venting by these enterprises in 2019 was more than 14 thousand tons. It’s important to mention that 97% of these 14,000 tons caused by the largest pollutant emissions. [1]

To addition of this, PMs affect more people than any other pollutant. [2] Air pollution by PMs causes eye irritation, asthma, bronchitis, lung damage, cancer, heavy metal poisoning, and has negative effects on the cardiovascular system. [3] PMs also can decrease cognitive ability and affect mental health. [4]

What is PM? – These are the smallest dust particles (Particulate Matter – PM). The term refers to a mix of the solid particles and droplets in the air. Some particles, such as dust, dirt, soot or smoke, are large enough or dark enough to be seen with the naked eye. Some particles are so small that they can only be detected by using an electrical microscope. [5]

Depending on the size, there are several types of solid particles, however, the automatic stationary stations in Georgia only measures PM2.5 and PM10. Therefore, we pay attention to these particles.

PM10 – These are inhalable particles with a diameter of 10 microns (same as micrometer) or less. They can penetrate into the lungs. The maximum allowable level for PM10 in Georgia is 50 mcg / m3 (which indicates the concentration of particles per microgram and per cubic meter of air volume). An increase of 50mcg / m3 of this data increases the air pollution-related mortality rate by 15%. In Rustavi, the PM10 concentration level even reached 300 mcg / m3, which is 6 times higher than the maximum allowable level.

PM2.5 – Due to its small size (2.5 micrometers or less), are even more dangerous to health as they can cross the lung barrier and enter to the blood. The maximum allowable level of PM2.5 in Georgia is 25 mcg / m3. How small is 2.5 micrometer? – 30 times smaller than the diameter of a human hair.

According to the ministry of environmental protection and agriculture, the data obtained by automatic monitoring in Rustavi in ​​2019 (not validated at this stage) showed the average annual concentration of the smallest solid particle PM10 was 1.6 times higher than the allowable level, and PM2.5 – was 1.3 times higher. The average daily concentration of PM10 exceeded the limit for 175 days (the number of allowable exceedances per year is 35).

Even when the concentration of the smallest solid particles in the air is low, it still has a negative impact on human health. In the case of Rustavi, the mentioned concentration is always very high. Therefore, it’s necessary to reduce the capacity of PMs in the air as quickly as possible, after that, Rustavi citizens health will no longer under the danger. Decision-makers must remember that according to the Constitution of Georgia, everyone has the right to live in a healthy environment. If they forget this article of the Constitution, we should all remind them together.

 

[1] source: the 2020-2022 action plan for improvement ambient air quality in Rustavi

[2] https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/ambient-(outdoor)-air-quality-and-health

[3] source: the 2020-2022 action plan for improvement ambient air quality in Rustavi

[4] https://www.apa.org/monitor/2012/07-08/smog

[5] https://www.epa.gov/pm-pollution/particulate-matter-pm-basics

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