Dust, pollen, mold, hair, etc., are all PM__.

Dust, pollen, mold, hair, etc., are all PM__.

• A. PM10
• B. PM2.5
• C. PM1
• D. PM0.1

Answer: (A)

Particulate matter is grouped by how large the particles are when they travel through the air. PM10 means particles with an aerodynamic diameter up to 10 micrometers. Dust, pollen, mold spores, and hair are typically larger than the finest particles and fall into the coarse/inhalable fraction that PM10 covers. These bigger particles tend to deposit in the nose and throat rather than penetrating deep into the lungs, unlike the finer PM2.5 or the ultrafine PM1 and PM0.1. That’s why dust, pollen, mold, and hair are classified as PM10.

Particulate matter is grouped by how large the particles are when they travel through the air. PM10 means particles with an aerodynamic diameter up to 10 micrometers. Dust, pollen, mold spores, and hair are typically larger than the finest particles and fall into the coarse/inhalable fraction that PM10 covers. These bigger particles tend to deposit in the nose and throat rather than penetrating deep into the lungs, unlike the finer PM2.5 or the ultrafine PM1 and PM0.1. That’s why dust, pollen, mold, and hair are classified as PM10.