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What is Particulate Pollution?

Particulate pollution is made up of tiny bits of airborne solids and liquids. It’s also called particle pollution, particulate matter, or PM 2.5, so named for the size of the particles (smaller than 2.5 microns in width). Whatever the name, particulate pollution is deadly. The smaller the particles, the more harmful the pollution. The invisible particles can pass directly into the bloodstream when breathed into the lungs, triggering serious health conditions, including premature death.

Particulate pollution is a result of the combustion of fossil fuels and other organic material, and comes from many sources, including power plants, cars and trucks, diesel engines, and wildfires.

What can particulate pollution do to you?

Particulate pollution is deadly. It causes premature death, heart attacks, stroke, asthma attacks, premature birth, low birth weight, and other serious health problems. Preliminary research indicates that exposure to particulate pollution increases the risk of death from coronavirus.

What you can do.

Learn more about how particulate pollution harms our health by exploring our resources.

Demand that our leaders protect us from this harmful pollutant. Learn more about state and national policies on particulate pollution.

Resources about Particulate Pollution

  • Resources
  • Articles
  • Take Action
Andrew Wheeler’s EPA: A Racist Agenda

Fact Sheet

Andrew Wheeler’s EPA: A Racist Agenda

El Humo No Es Cosa De Chiste

Fact Sheet

El Humo No Es Cosa De Chiste

Virtual Cafecito: Cuentos del Fuego

Video

Virtual Cafecito: Cuentos del Fuego

Trump Administration Moves Under Cover of COVID

Timeline

Trump Administration Moves Under Cover of COVID

PBS EcoSense for Living: Do We Still Need the Clean Air Act?

Video

PBS EcoSense for Living: Do We Still Need the Clean Air Act?

Methane Leaks

Fact Sheet

Methane Leaks

How Air Pollution Harms Your Body

Fact Sheet

How Air Pollution Harms Your Body

Asthma in the African American Community

Fact Sheet

Asthma in the African American Community

Wildfire Smoke and Your Health

Fact Sheet

Wildfire Smoke and Your Health

Soot and Black Carbon

Fact Sheet

Soot and Black Carbon

Healthy Hearts Need Clean Air

Fact Sheet

Healthy Hearts Need Clean Air

Air Pollution and Latinos

Fact Sheet

Air Pollution and Latinos

See more resources about Particulate Pollution »

Air Pollution and COVID-19 Are a Deadly Combination During Winter Inversion Season

Article

Air Pollution and COVID-19 Are a Deadly Combination During Winter Inversion Season

Air Pollution is Invisible. Watch It Turn Visible.

Article

Air Pollution is Invisible. Watch It Turn Visible.

Trump’s EPA is Failing Our Health, Again: Moms Make News: November 23 - December 10, 2020

Article

Trump’s EPA is Failing Our Health, Again: Moms Make News: November 23 - December 10, 2020

U.S. Air Quality Monitors Routinely Miss Pollution

Article

U.S. Air Quality Monitors Routinely Miss Pollution

Why Are Birds Falling From the Sky?

Article

Why Are Birds Falling From the Sky?

Moms Tell the White House: We Want Strong Protections from Deadly Particle Pollution

Article

Moms Tell the White House: We Want Strong Protections from Deadly Particle Pollution

Andrew Wheeler Rams Deregulatory Agenda in Last Weeks at EPA

Article

Andrew Wheeler Rams Deregulatory Agenda in Last Weeks at EPA

United We Stand

Article

United We Stand

Get Expert Answers to Urgent Environmental Questions in 'Protecting Your Child’s Health'

Article

Get Expert Answers to Urgent Environmental Questions in 'Protecting Your Child’s Health'

Trump's EPA to Sign “Air Toxics Loophole” That Will Increase Public Health Risk

Article

Trump's EPA to Sign “Air Toxics Loophole” That Will Increase Public Health Risk

Breathe Deep Montana

Article

Breathe Deep Montana

Wildfires are Breathing Down on My Home

Article

Wildfires are Breathing Down on My Home

Read more articles about Particulate Pollution »

Coal Blooded Action Toolkit from the NAACP

Action Guide

Coal Blooded Action Toolkit from the NAACP

Tell the Senate: End Fossil Fuel Tax Breaks and Subsidies

Petition

Tell the Senate: End Fossil Fuel Tax Breaks and Subsidies

Clean Air Action Guide

Action Guide

Clean Air Action Guide

Air Pollution and COVID-19 Are a Deadly Combination During Winter Inversion Season

Article

Air Pollution and COVID-19 Are a Deadly Combination During Winter Inversion Season

Air Pollution is Invisible. Watch It Turn Visible.

Article

Air Pollution is Invisible. Watch It Turn Visible.

Trump’s EPA is Failing Our Health, Again: Moms Make News: November 23 - December 10, 2020

Article

Trump’s EPA is Failing Our Health, Again: Moms Make News: November 23 - December 10, 2020

U.S. Air Quality Monitors Routinely Miss Pollution

Article

U.S. Air Quality Monitors Routinely Miss Pollution

Why Are Birds Falling From the Sky?

Article

Why Are Birds Falling From the Sky?

Moms Tell the White House: We Want Strong Protections from Deadly Particle Pollution

Article

Moms Tell the White House: We Want Strong Protections from Deadly Particle Pollution

Andrew Wheeler Rams Deregulatory Agenda in Last Weeks at EPA

Article

Andrew Wheeler Rams Deregulatory Agenda in Last Weeks at EPA

United We Stand

Article

United We Stand

Get Expert Answers to Urgent Environmental Questions in 'Protecting Your Child’s Health'

Article

Get Expert Answers to Urgent Environmental Questions in 'Protecting Your Child’s Health'

Andrew Wheeler’s EPA: A Racist Agenda

Fact Sheet

Andrew Wheeler’s EPA: A Racist Agenda

El Humo No Es Cosa De Chiste

Fact Sheet

El Humo No Es Cosa De Chiste

Trump's EPA to Sign “Air Toxics Loophole” That Will Increase Public Health Risk

Article

Trump's EPA to Sign “Air Toxics Loophole” That Will Increase Public Health Risk

See more Particulate Pollution resources »

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Moms Clean Air Force

We are a community of moms and dads united against air pollution – including the urgent crisis of our changing climate – to protect our children’s health.

Areas of Focus

  • What Is Air Pollution?
  • What is Climate Change?
  • What are Toxic Chemicals?

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