Particulates are pieces of solid matter or droplets of liquid that are small enough to remain suspended in the air. Even comparatively clean rural air typically contains more than one million particulates in each cubic foot of air. Airborne pollens, lead, asbestos and road dust all contribute to particulate pollution. Combustion processes emit numerous particulates into the air including ash, soot, metals and liquid droplets. Diesel engine exhaust is a significant source of urban particulates. Wood smoke also contains numerous particulates. The open burning of trash, yard wastes and forest wastes is a major source of particulate pollution.

Some of the ways to reduce particulate pollution include driving less, driving slowly on unpaved surfaces, limiting open burning, stabilizing bare or disturbed earth, and preventing diesel idling.

EPA's Particulate Matter Page provides extensive information and links on particulate matter, its impacts on health, and ways of reducing it.

The Northwest Center for Particulate Air Pollution and Health is one of five centers around the country funded by the US EPA to study the effects on human health of particulate air pollution. Their website offers news and research on the subject.

Burning Issues, a project of Clean Air Revival, Inc., provides public education about the medical hazards of exposure to wood smoke and other fine particulate pollution. 

On-line Articles and Publications

The California Air Resources Board offers Air Pollution--Particulate Matter, a web brochure that describes sources, effects, and strategies for reducing particulates.

Particulate Air Pollution, a basic overview from the UCLA Institute of the Environment.

Particulate Pollution, an air pollution brief from the Natural Resources Defense Council.

Particulate Air Pollution and Daily Mortality, a statement from The Health Effects Institute.

Particulate Matter Air Pollution, an American Lung Association® Fact Sheet.

The Burning Issues Particulate Pollution Project Bibliography

Last updated October 22, 2003

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