PM10 (Coarse Particulate Matter)
Inhalable particles with diameters between 2.5 and 10 micrometers, typically from dust, construction, and agricultural activities.
Detailed Explanation
PM10 encompasses inhalable particles with diameters of 10 micrometers or smaller. This category includes both the fine particles (PM2.5) and larger coarse particles between 2.5 and 10 micrometers. Coarse particles are primarily generated by mechanical processes such as crushing, grinding, and abrasion of surfaces, as well as by dust lifted from roads, construction sites, agricultural fields, and mining operations. Natural sources include windblown dust, pollen, and sea spray. While PM10 particles are too large to penetrate as deeply into the lungs as PM2.5, they still deposit in the upper airways and can cause respiratory irritation, coughing, and aggravated asthma. Chronic exposure is associated with reduced lung function and increased respiratory disease. PM10 tends to be a concern in arid western and southwestern cities where dry conditions and construction activity generate significant dust. Cities like Phoenix (Maricopa County) and Las Vegas (Clark County) frequently show elevated PM10 levels. The EPA's 24-hour standard for PM10 is 150 micrograms per cubic meter. AirHistory tracks PM10 as a dominant pollutant category, though it affects fewer cities nationally than PM2.5 or ozone.
Related Terms
PM2.5 (Fine Particulate Matter)
Airborne particles smaller than 2.5 micrometers in diameter, small enough to penetrate deep into the lungs and enter the bloodstream.
Particulate Matter (PM)
A mixture of solid particles and liquid droplets suspended in the air, ranging in size from visible dust to microscopic particles.
Criteria Pollutants
The six common air pollutants regulated by the EPA under the Clean Air Act: ozone, PM2.5, PM10, CO, NO2, and SO2.
Air Quality Monitor
A device that measures pollutant concentrations in ambient air, operated by government agencies as part of the national monitoring network.
Frequently Asked Questions
Inhalable particles with diameters between 2.5 and 10 micrometers, typically from dust, construction, and agricultural activities.
PM10 encompasses inhalable particles with diameters of 10 micrometers or smaller. This category includes both the fine particles (PM2.5) and larger coarse particles between 2.5 and 10 micrometers. Coarse particles are primarily generated by mechanical processes such as crushing, grinding, and abrasion of surfaces, as well as by dust lifted from roads, construction sites, agricultural fields, and mining operations.
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In the the EPA Air Quality System (AQS) data, this concept shapes one or more of the fields that drive the per-entity grades and rankings on this site. The methodology page describes which fields feed into which output; this glossary entry documents the underlying term.