What is Particulate Pollution? - Moms Clean Air Force

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.

The science is clear. We must act with urgency.

Moms Clean Air Force demands that city, state, and federal lawmakers and regulators move us onto a path to climate safety immediately.

We must mobilize immediately for a transition to zero climate pollution. The 100% Clean Economy bill is a great start.
We must have laws and regulations that rapidly draw down carbon and methane emissions and ramp up energy efficiency everywhere.
Our goals must be ambitious, and staged deadlines must be strictly enforced to demonstrate measurable progress.
We must ensure that vulnerable populations and communities of color are given equitable protections and are granted access to cost-effective clean-energy options.
We must make bold investments in innovative technologies that will help solve this climate crisis.
We must hold companies accountable for cleaning up their climate pollution.

Tell Your Representatives:
It’s Beyond Time for Climate Safety