What is particulate matter?

First things first, what exactly is particulate matter? Fine dust particles, also called particulate matter (PM) in English, are particulates smaller than 10 micrometers (𝜇m). They affect our health and are measured in micrograms per m³ (𝜇g/m3). The fine dust of 10 𝜇m, hereafter PM10, is the dust that you see on your desk if you do not clean for a few days. Particulate matter of 2.5𝜇m hereinafter referred to as PM2.5, is four times smaller.

iLet's take a look at this image to understand the dimensions we're talking about: 

It is precisely the size of the particulate matter that determines the effect on health: the smaller the dust particles, the more easily they are absorbed in the bronchi and spread further through your body via your bloodstream. The International Agency for Research on Cancer labels particulate matter that spreads through the air as a group 1 human carcinogen (cancer agents) [2].

It is precisely the size of the particulate matter that determines the effect on health: the smaller the dust particles, the more easily they are absorbed in the bronchi and spread further through your body via your bloodstream

Recent research from Harvard Chan School of Public Health establishes a direct relationship between long-term exposure to particulate matter and corona death rates. Each increase of 1 g/m3 PM2.5 results in 15% more corona deaths [3]. Dutch researchers also investigated the relationship between particulate matter and COVID-19 contamination cases in 355 Dutch municipalities [4]. It turns out: PM2.5 predicts the number of hospital admissions from COVID-19. With a 20% increase in PM2.5, the number of corona infections is expected to double [5].

With a 20% increase in PM2.5, the number of corona infections is expected to double.

Polluted indoor air

Polluted outside air also enters our homes and offices, where it accumulates. It is therefore common for the particulate matter concentration in buildings to be higher than outside [8]. In many cases, indoor air quality is even 2 to 5 times more polluted than outside [9].

One third of all diseases originate in buildings. Half is spread by PM2.5 [10].

The cause of this can differ depending on the location and is not only related to particulate matter that enters the building from outside. In homes, sources of fine dust are cooking, pets, household products that generate aerosols, and walking on carpets. In offices, the cause is more due to carpets and the amount of office equipment such as printers, scanners, and copy machines [11]. Finally, the supply of ventilation through windows and the spatial layout also play a role. But what can you do to improve indoors?

The office is taking a different meaning, with health becoming a central component. In order to respond to this, a healthy indoor climate is important, in which particulate matter plays a major role, among other things.

How is the air quality at your workplace or in your building and what health risks are your employees exposed to? Do the Clairify Quickscan and get useful insight into the air quality in your building.

Sources

1. Ellis-Petersen H, Ratcliffe R, Daniels JP, Cowie S, Kuo L. “It”s positively alpine!’: Disbelief in big cities as air pollution falls [Internet]. the Guardian. 2020. Beschikbaar op: http://www.theguardian.com/environment/2020/apr/11/positively-alpine-disbelief-air-pollution-falls-lockdown-coronavirus
2. de Oliveira Fernandes Pawel Wargocki & Otto Hänninen AAPCSKE. Reducing burden of disease from residential indoor air exposures in Europe (HEALTHVENT project). Environmental Health [Internet]. 2016;15. Beschikbaar op: http://dx.doi.org/10.1186/s12940-016-0101-8
3. Guaita R, Pichiule M, Maté T, Linares C, Díaz J. Short-term impact of particulate matter (PM2.5) on respiratory mortality in Madrid [Internet]. Vol. 21, International Journal of Environmental Health Research. 2011. p. 260–74. Beschikbaar op: http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/09603123.2010.544033
4. Landrigan PJ, Fuller R, Acosta NJR, Adeyi O, Arnold R, Basu N (nil), et al. The Lancet Commission on pollution and health. Lancet. 2018 Feb;391(10119):462–512. Beschikbaar op: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/29056410/
5. Wu X, Nethery RC, Sabath BM, Braun D, Dominici F. Exposure to air pollution and COVID-19 mortality in the United States: A nationwide cross-sectional study. medRxiv. 2020 Apr 27;2020.04.05.20054502. Beschikbaar op: https://www.medrxiv.org/content/medrxiv/early/2020/04/27/2020.04.05.20054502.full.pdf
6. Andree BPJ. Incidence of COVID-19 and Connections with Air Pollution Exposure: Evidence from the Netherlands. medRxiv. 2020 May 3;2020.04.27.20081562. Beschikbaar op: https://elibrary.worldbank.org/doi/abs/10.1596/1813-9450-9221
7. A set-up for field studies of respiratory tract deposition of fine and ultrafine particles in humans. J Aerosol Sci. 2006 Sep 1;37(9):1152–63. Beschikbaar op: https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0021850205002247?
8. Kim K-H, Kabir E, Kabir S. A review on the human health impact of airborne particulate matter [Internet]. Vol. 74, Environment International. 2015. p. 136–43. Beschikbaar op: http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.envint.2014.10.005
9. Madureira J, Paciência I, de Oliveira Fernandes E. Levels and Indoor–Outdoor Relationships of Size-Specific Particulate Matter in Naturally Ventilated Portuguese Schools [Internet]. Vol. 75, Journal of Toxicology and Environmental Health, Part A. 2012. p. 1423–36. Beschikbaar op: http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/15287394.2012.721177
10. Wallace LA. The Total Exposure Assessment Methodology (TEAM) Study: Summary and analysis. 1987. Beschikbaar op: https://books.google.nl/books/about/The_Total_Exposure_Assessment_Methodolog.html?hl=&id=Gs7czAEACAAJ&redir_esc=y
11. Brian P Hanley BB. Aerosol influenza transmission risk contours: A study of humid tropics versus winter temperate zone. Virol J. 2010;7:98. Beschikbaar op: https://virologyj.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/1743-422X-7-98