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PM10 is a major air pollutant that is composed of tiny particles of solid or liquid with an aerodynamic diameter smaller than 10 µm. It is a complex mixture of solids and aerosols composed of small droplets of liquid, dry solid fragments, and solid cores with liquid coatings. PM10 is small enough to enter the lungs and cause adverse health effects, especially in vulnerable groups of people such as the young, elderly, and those with respiratory problems. High levels of PM10 in the air can cause serious health issues, including respiratory and cardiovascular problems, and even premature mortality. While PM10 pollution has decreased in the long term, it still remains a significant health threat and a common pollutant.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Definition | Particles with a diameter of 10 microns or less that are inhalable into the lungs and can induce adverse health effects |
| Composition | Mixture of solids and aerosols composed of small droplets of liquid, dry solid fragments, solid cores with liquid coatings, inorganic ions, metallic compounds, elemental carbon, organic compounds, and compounds from the Earth's crust |
| Sources | Primary human emissions, secondary atmospheric reactions, and natural sources. Specific sources include combustion of gasoline, oil, diesel fuel, or wood, construction sites, landfills, agriculture, wildfires, industrial sources, wind-blown dust, pollen, and bacteria |
| Health Effects | Can induce tissue damage, lung inflammation, and adverse effects on the respiratory and cardiovascular systems. May worsen symptoms for people with heart or lung conditions |
| Trends | Urban background PM10 pollution has decreased in the long term, with annual mean concentrations at urban background sites in the UK decreasing from 36.1 µg/m3 in 1992 to 11.8 µg/m3 in 2024. Roadside PM10 pollution has also shown a long-term decrease |
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What You'll Learn
PM10 is an air pollutant
PM10 is a major air pollutant composed of tiny particles of solids or liquids with an aerodynamic diameter smaller than 10 µm. To put this into perspective, about 10 of these particles can be placed side by side within the width of a human hair. PM10 is a component of inhalable particulate matter (PM), which is a mixture of many chemical species. PM10 is derived from a variety of sources, including primary human emissions, secondary atmospheric reactions, and natural sources. Primary human sources include emissions from the combustion of gasoline, oil, diesel fuel, or wood, as well as construction sites, landfills, agriculture, wildfires, industrial sources, wind-blown dust, and vehicle exhaust. Secondary particles are formed in the atmosphere through chemical reactions of gases such as sulfur dioxide, nitrogen oxides, and certain organic compounds.
PM10 is of particular concern due to its adverse effects on human health. Its small size allows it to be inhaled into the lungs, where it can induce tissue damage, lung inflammation, and other adverse health impacts. People with pre-existing heart or lung conditions may experience an increase in symptoms when exposed to high levels of PM10. The health risks associated with PM10 are significant enough that PM10 readings are factored into overall Air Quality Index (AQI) readings in several countries, including the USA and China.
While PM10 is a significant health threat, it is important to note that its smaller counterpart, PM2.5, often receives more attention. PM2.5 is a subset of PM10, consisting of particles with a diameter of 2.5 microns or less. These finer particles are more likely to travel deeper into the lungs and are associated with a greater proportion of adverse health effects related to air pollution worldwide. However, this does not diminish the harmful nature of PM10, which remains a serious air pollutant that can cause substantial damage to human health and the environment.
Over time, there has been a general decrease in annual mean concentrations of PM10 in urban and roadside environments. This reduction is partly attributed to the decrease in emissions of PM10, particularly from road transport sources and changes in fuels used for energy generation. However, despite these positive trends, air pollution, including PM10, continues to be a significant risk factor for various non-communicable diseases and contributes to millions of deaths and the loss of healthy years of life globally. Therefore, ongoing efforts to reduce PM10 pollution and improve air quality remain crucial for safeguarding public health and the environment.
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Health risks of PM10
PM10 is a major air pollutant and a health threat. It is composed of tiny particles of solid or liquid with an aerodynamic diameter smaller than 10 µm. To put this into perspective, about 10 of these particles can be placed side-by-side within the width of a human hair.
PM10 is a mixture of many chemical species, varying widely in size, shape, and chemical composition. It is composed of small droplets of liquid, dry solid fragments, and solid cores with liquid coatings. PM10 particles may contain inorganic ions, metallic compounds, elemental carbon, organic compounds, and compounds from the earth’s crust.
PM10 particles are small enough to pass through the throat and nose and enter the lungs. They can be comprised of smoke, soot, salts, acids, metals, and dust, including wind-blown dust from disturbed natural lands. Dust is emitted from loose soils or disturbed natural lands by wind through a process called saltation, which is the wind-driven, hopping motion of particles across a surface.
PM10 is likely to deposit on the surfaces of the larger airways of the upper region of the lung. Particles deposited on the lung surface can induce tissue damage and lung inflammation, impacting respiratory and cardiovascular health. Exposure to PM10 can lead to adverse health effects, especially in older adults with chronic heart or lung disease, children, and asthmatics. Children and infants are more susceptible to harm from inhaling pollutants such as PM10 because they inhale more air per pound of body weight than adults—they breathe faster, spend more time outdoors, and have smaller body sizes.
PM10 often derives from different emission sources and has different chemical compositions. Emissions from the combustion of gasoline, oil, diesel fuel, or wood produce a significant proportion of PM10. Other sources of PM10 include dust from construction sites, landfills, and agriculture, wildfires and brush/waste burning, industrial sources, wind-blown dust from open lands, pollen, and fragments of bacteria.
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PM10 and PM2.5 compared
PM10 and PM2.5 are types of particulate matter (PM) and are both harmful air pollutants found indoors and outdoors. PM refers to airborne particulate matter, which is a mixture of many chemical species. PM is composed of solids and aerosols, which are small droplets of liquid, dry solid fragments, and solid cores with liquid coatings.
PM10 refers to particles with an aerodynamic diameter of 10 micrometres or less. These particles are small enough to enter the throat and lungs, causing adverse health effects. PM10 is primarily formed from physical processes such as wind-blown dust from roads or fields, crushing or grinding operations, and combustion processes. Natural sources include sea spray, volcanic ash, and pollen, while man-made sources include agricultural works, industrial emissions, and road traffic.
PM2.5 refers to particles with a diameter of 2.5 micrometres or less. These particles are more likely to travel into and deposit on the surface of the deeper parts of the lung, posing more serious and urgent health risks. PM2.5 is typically emitted from vehicles, power plants, industrial processes, residential wood burning, forest fires, and some agricultural burning.
While PM2.5 is generally considered more dangerous to human health, both types of particulate matter can be detrimental and should be monitored. PM2.5 is included within PM10, as all particles with a diameter of 2.5 micrometres or less will also have a diameter of 10 micrometres or less. Therefore, as PM10 increases, so does PM2.5, and air quality worsens.
Both PM10 and PM2.5 have negative health effects, particularly for older adults with chronic heart or lung disease, children, and asthmatics. Short-term exposure to PM2.5 has been associated with premature mortality, increased hospital admissions for heart or lung causes, acute and chronic bronchitis, asthma attacks, and respiratory symptoms. High levels of PM10 can also cause increased symptoms for people with heart or lung conditions.
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Sources of PM10
PM10, or particulate matter, is a major air pollutant composed of tiny particles of solid or liquid matter with an aerodynamic diameter of 10 micrometres or less. These particles are small enough to enter the lungs and cause serious health issues, especially for those with pre-existing heart or lung conditions. As such, PM10 is one of the most important pollutants concerning human health.
PM10 comes from a multitude of sources, both natural and anthropogenic. Natural sources of PM10 include wind-borne dust, dust storms, wildfires, sea spray, sea salt, volcanic emissions, forest fires, and pollen.
Anthropogenic sources of PM10 are varied and include:
- Industrial emissions
- Industrial plants
- Fossil fuel power plants
- Coal-fired power stations
- Household combustion
- Metallurgic industries
- Vehicle emissions, including motor vehicle exhaust emissions and tyre abrasion
- Road dust, including dust from paved and unpaved roads, and construction sites
- Resuspended soil particles
- Mining
- Slash-and-burn agriculture
- Wood-burning stoves
- Restaurant grills and fireplaces
Reducing PM10
To effectively reduce PM10 pollution, decision-makers must focus on reducing primary sources, such as those listed above. Policies that encourage the adoption of clean energy sources are also key.
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PM10 levels over time
PM10 is a major air pollutant composed of tiny particles of solid or liquid with an aerodynamic diameter smaller than 10 microns. As a significant air pollutant, PM10 has a negative relationship with air quality; as PM10 increases in the air, air quality worsens. PM10 is small enough to penetrate deep into the lungs and can adversely impact the respiratory and cardiovascular systems.
PM10 levels have decreased over time in the UK and Europe. Between 2006 and 2015, the annual mean PM10 concentration at urban background sites decreased by an average of 1.0 µg/m3 each year. Concentration levels then plateaued from 2015 to 2019, after which there was a notable decrease of 12% to 13.2 µg/m3 in 2020. Since then, concentrations have remained below pre-2020 levels and have continued to fall, despite rising slightly in 2022. The annual mean PM10 concentration in 2024 was 14.7 µg/m3, the lowest recorded.
At urban background sites, the mean number of hours where PM10 concentrations exceeded the 'Moderate' threshold decreased by 99% between 1992 and 2024, from 36.1 µg/m3 to 11 hours and 11.8 µg/m3, respectively. This downward trend was interrupted in 2003, 2019, and 2022. In 2003, meteorological analysis showed that concentrations at many monitoring sites were elevated due to primary emissions from Northern or Central Europe, along with secondary particles caused by chemical reactions in the atmosphere. Similarly, in 2019, two UK-wide particulate pollution episodes occurred in February and April.
While PM10 concentrations have generally decreased over time in the UK and Europe, roadside PM10 pollution has been higher than at urban background sites. This is likely due to the contribution of PM10 emissions from road transport sources, such as brakes, tyres, and road wear, as well as the impact of resuspension due to vehicle movements.
PM10 emissions can come from various sources, both indoor and outdoor. The three main source categories are primary human emissions, secondary atmospheric reactions, and natural sources. Primary human sources include the combustion of gasoline, oil, diesel fuel, or wood, while secondary atmospheric reactions include chemical reactions of gases such as sulfur dioxide and nitrogen oxides. Natural sources can include dust from construction sites, landfills, agriculture, wildfires, and wind-blown dust from open lands.
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Frequently asked questions
PM10 refers to particles of solid or liquid with an aerodynamic diameter smaller than 10 µm. PM10 is composed of many different substances like mould spores, bacteria, dust, and smoke.
PM10 is considered a common and major air pollutant because it is present in a variety of forms and sources. It is small enough to enter the lungs and cause damage throughout the respiratory tract. It can adversely impact the cardiovascular system and worsen asthma and allergies.
Urban background PM10 pollution has reduced in the long term despite periods of little change in 2000-2006 and 2015-2019. Annual mean concentrations of PM10 at urban background sites in the UK decreased from 36.1 µg/m3 in 1992 to 11.8 µg/m3 in 2024. Similarly, annual average concentrations of PM10 at roadside sites in the UK decreased from 36.7 µg/m3 in 1997 to 17.2 µg/m3 in 2015.
