

PM10 also includes dust from construction sites, landfills and agriculture, wildfires and brush/waste burning, industrial sources, wind-blown dust from open lands, pollen and fragments of bacteria. Emissions from combustion of gasoline, oil, diesel fuel or wood produce much of the PM2.5 pollution found in outdoor air, as well as a significant proportion of PM10. PM10 and PM2.5 often derive from different emissions sources, and also have different chemical compositions. What is the Difference Between PM10 and PM2.5?

Therefore, PM2.5 comprises a portion of PM10. Fine particulate matter is defined as particles that are 2.5 microns or less in diameter (PM2.5). Those with a diameter of 10 microns or less (PM10) are inhalable into the lungs and can induce adverse health effects. Particles are defined by their diameter for air quality regulatory purposes. Particles vary widely in size, shape and chemical composition, and may contain inorganic ions, metallic compounds, elemental carbon, organic compounds, and compounds from the earth’s crust. It is a complex mixture of solids and aerosols composed of small droplets of liquid, dry solid fragments, and solid cores with liquid coatings. Airborne particulate matter (PM) is not a single pollutant, but rather is a mixture of many chemical species.
