Particulates
Particulates and Ultrafine Particles

Particulates and Ultrafine Particles   

What particulates are
Sources of particulates
Health problems associated with particulates
Decreasing exposure to particulates

What Particulates Are

Particulate is a general term used for a type of air pollution that consists of various types of particles suspended in the air we breathe. Particulates that are small enough to be breathed in come in a variety of sizes, shapes, and levels of toxicity. Examples of particulates that may be found in indoor environments include:

Of recent concern are ultrafine particles (UFPs), which are less than 0.1 micrometer (µm) in diameter. They are a problem because they cannot be detected with the sampling equipment usually used to measure other particulates. Instead, a commercially available ultrafine particle counter must be used to measure the amount of these particles.

Because these UFP particles weigh almost nothing, they stay airborne for a long time, easily move from one area of a building to another, and can travel through cracks in walls and floors, unlike other particles.

Sources of Particulates

Particles small enough to be breathed in have been found in restaurants, sport arenas, and residences with smoking. Particulate sources include:

Particulate levels in homes without smoking or other strong particle sources are the same as, or lower than, outdoor levels.

Ultrafine particles (UFP) are often the byproducts of combustion like other particulates, but there are also some unlikely sources for them such as cleaning solvents, boiler gasket leaks, or malfunctioning photocopiers. 

Health Problems Associated with Particulates

There are many factors that determine if one might get sick due to breathing in particulates. These include:

  • The concentration, amount, and type of particulates in the air. The health effects from inhaling particles depend upon many factors, including the size of the particle and its chemical make-up. For example, since UFPs are so small, they can get into the deepest parts of the lungs.

  • Personal characteristics such as age, gender, weight, general health status. Particulates can increase respiratory symptoms, especially in people with chronic lung disease or heart problems.

  • In some cases, organic chemicals such as pesticides and VOCs can be collected on particles and inhaled.

Health problems caused by breathing particulates can either be acute, which occur immediately or within a few days of exposure, or they can be chronic, which are long-term health effects that might not show up for many years. Breathing in particulates can result in:

  • Eye, nose, and throat irritation .

  • Increased risk for respiratory infections.

  • Exposure to high levels of fine particles can play a role in the development of respiratory diseases such as asthma, bronchitis, pneumonia and emphysema.1

  • Increased risk for lung cancer from pollutants like environmental tobacco smoke and benzopyrene which can attach to small particles that are inhaled and carried deep into the lung.

Decreasing Exposure to Particulates

  • Clean the house frequently to remove house dust particles, especially if there are children or pets running in and out of the house. Vacuum rugs and furniture with a vacuum cleaner that has a very efficient air filter and damp mop the floors.

  • Have people use doormats and leave their shoes by the door to help keep indoor particle levels down.

  • Control the source of irritants, which refers to chemicals that can be inhaled - not people!.

  • Keep tobacco smoke out of your home and away from open doors or windows. Environmental tobacco smoke can increase the chance of lung cancer in nonsmokers. Children, pregnant women, or persons with lung or heart disease are especially sensitive to smoke.

  • Install and use an exhaust fan vented to outdoors over gas stoves. Remove and clean the metal mesh filters on your range hoods with detergent when they begin to look grimy (most can be put in the dishwasher). "Ductless" range hoods are not effective because they exhaust into the house rather than outside; add a duct or replace the hood with one vented to the outside (ducted).

  • Choose vented appliances whenever possible.

  • Before considering using an unvented space heater, check with your local and state building codes and fire ordinances. These types of unvented heaters are not allowed to be used in some communities, dwellings, or certain rooms in the house.

  • Never idle the car in a garage even if the garage door to the outside is open. Exhaust vapors can build up very quickly in the garage and living area of your home.

  • Have a trained professional inspect your fuel-burning appliances including oil and gas furnaces, gas water heaters, gas ranges and ovens, gas dryers, gas or kerosene space heaters, fireplaces, and wood stoves at the beginning of every heating season. The central heating system (furnaces, flues, and chimneys) should also be inspected, cleaned, and tuned-up annually.

  • Supply adequate outdoor make-up air for combustion so there will not be backdrafting into the indoor environment.

  • Inspect and clean flues and chimneys regularly to make sure they are in good condition and not blocked.

  • Use proper fuel in kerosene space heaters. Only use water-clear ASTM 1-K kerosene for kerosene heaters, otherwise you could have even more pollutants get in your home. Never use gasoline in a kerosene heater because it can cause a fire or an explosion. Using even small amounts of gasoline could cause a fire.

  • Open flues when fireplaces are in use.

  • If you choose to use a wood stove, make sure they are the right size and that they are certified to meet US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) emission standards. Make certain that doors on all wood stoves fit tightly.

  • Use an air cleaner to help in removing particulates from the air.

  • Upgrade your furnace filter to pleated or extended surface filters, which have a medium- or high-efficiency rating. Change this filter at least every month or two during periods of use. As a minimum, air filters with a dust spot efficiency of 30% are recommended.

  • If your household has young children or someone with allergies or lung disease, consider using a high-efficiency air cleaner in your forced-air heating system or add a stand-alone unit. Some stand-alone air cleaners (HEPA or electrostatic types) can remove particles in a single room. Small desktop air cleaners generally are not effective.

Reference

  1. British Columbia Ministry of Environment, Lands and Parks. Fine particles, what they are and how they affect us. Environmental and Resource Management. 1995 Feb: www.env.gov.bc.ca/epd/epdpa/ar/particulates/fpwtaaht.html.