Number 65e June 2018

Particulate Matter and Outdoor Air Pollution Air quality is determined by the level of What causes particle pollution? pollutants in the air. Air quality is affected by the types and amount of pollutants released Particulate matter can be produced from into the air, weather conditions like wind burning materials, road dust, construction speed, precipitation (rain and snow) and and agriculture. temperature. Topography, such as local mountains can also affect air quality. One of the largest sources of particulate matter in B.C. is residential wood burning. The levels of pollutants in the air can vary Wood smoke may come from residential greatly from one location to the next and sources such as a fireplace or wood stove in a from 1 hour to the next. Several pollutants home, all open burning of vegetative matter are measured at outdoor monitoring stations or backyard burning. in the province and compared against standards and guidelines. Other sources of particulate matter include forest fires, certain industries, furnaces, What is particle pollution? tobacco smoke and all mobile vehicles, especially those with diesel engines. Particulate matter (PM) refers to small solid or liquid particles floating in the air. The harmful effects of tobacco smoke are These particles can be made up of different well known. As a result, many B.C. substances like carbon, sulphur, nitrogen and municipalities have placed restrictions on metal compounds. smoking in public places.

Generally, smaller particles are thought to be How dangerous is particle pollution? more harmful to health than larger particles. Small particles can move deeper into the Particulate matter is considered the air respiratory tract, including the lungs. For this pollutant of greatest concern to the health of reason, fine particles that have diameters less the B.C. population. Research has shown that exposure to PM can lead to increased days than 2.5 micrometers (PM2.5) are linked to more serious health effects than larger lost from work or school, emergency room visits, hospital stays and deaths. particles. PM2.5 is about one-eighth the diameter of a human hair. Both short and long-term exposures to PM can lead to the worsening of heart and lung PM10 includes fine particles as well as coarse particles that range in size from 2.5 to 10 disease. It can also cause premature (early) micrometers in diameter. The coarse particles death, particularly among people who have a tend to stay in the upper parts of our higher risk of being affected by particle respiratory tract, such as the nose and throat. pollution.

Those most likely to be affected by particle  Take action to reduce wildfires. Practice pollution include: safe backyard burning and careful use of campfires  Children For more information, see HealthLinkBC  Older adults File #65c Indoor Air Quality (IAQ):  Those with heart or lung disease, such as Combustion By-products. asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) Reduce vehicle emissions and increase fuel efficiency: How can we reduce particle pollution?  Diesel vehicles, including trucks, are a key We can reduce the levels of particulate source of fine particles. Reduce diesel matter pollution by reducing the amount of emissions by replacing older engines with particulate matter produced through smoke newer and cleaner engines and by reducing vehicle emissions.  Walk, cycle, take public transit and carpool Reduce the amount of particulate matter whenever possible produced through smoke:  Pay attention to recommended

 Stop smoking; if you do smoke, do not maintenance schedules for your vehicle smoke indoors For More Information  Mulch garden refuse instead of burning it For more information on particulate matter  Limit the use of fireplaces and wood and your health, visit the following: stoves. When using these appliances, make sure that wood is burned properly. Use  B.C. Ministry of Environment – BC Air wood that is well seasoned instead of wet Quality or green. Stoves should also meet CSA www2.gov.bc.ca/gov/content/environment (Canadian Standards Association) or EPA /air-land-water/air (Environmental Protection Agency)  The Lung Association www.lung.ca/lung- emission standards health/air-quality/outdoor-air-quality

 Switch to cleaner burning appliances. For example, pellet stoves produce less particulate matter than traditional wood stoves

For more HealthLinkBC File topics, visit www.HealthLinkBC.ca/healthfiles or your local public health unit. For non-emergency health information and advice in B.C. visit www.HealthLinkBC.ca or call 8-1-1 (toll-free). For the deaf and hard of hearing, call 7-1-1. Translation services are available in more than 130 languages on request.