Particulate matter

High school (ages 12+)
Environment & Earth

Name:

Date:

Step 1 · Read the article

Open the article and read it at the level above. Then answer the questions below in your own words.

https://smallwhale.org/articles/particulate-matter

Write what each word means, using the article.

Do not copy the article. Write two things you learned, the way you would explain them to a friend.

Answers below are taken from the article’s stored facts, so they match what the student read.

1. How big is Particulate matter?PM10 (coarse), PM2.5 (fine), and ultrafine particles (<100 nm)
2. What is the composition?Includes sulfates, nitrates, black carbon, mineral dust, sea salt, and water
3. What is the primary anthropogenic sources?Combustion of fossil fuels (vehicles, power plants), industrial processes, biomass burning
4. Where do these tiny particles come from?They come from natural sources like volcanoes, sea spray, and dust storms, and from human activities like cars, factories, and cooking.
5. Why can particulate matter be bad for our health?Small particles can travel deep into the lungs and even into the bloodstream, causing heart problems, lung disease, and other health issues.

Particulate Matter (PM): A complex mixture of solid and liquid particles suspended in the atmosphere, varying widely in size and composition.
Aerosol: A colloidal suspension of solid or liquid particles in a gas, such as particulate matter in air.
Anthropogenic Sources: Pollution or emissions originating from human activities, as opposed to natural processes.
PM2.5: Fine particulate matter with an aerodynamic diameter of 2.5 micrometers or less, capable of deep lung penetration and systemic effects.