Particulate emissions, also known as particulate matter pollution, are a major health and environmental concern caused by factories and vehicles. They can harm animals, plants, and the climate, and cause respiratory conditions and cardiovascular problems in humans. To address this issue, fuel efficiency standards and emission filter systems are used to reduce production and release of particulate matter.
Particulate emissions are emissions characterized by the presence of small particles of solids and liquids. These common combustion by-products are a major health and environmental concern in many regions of the world, and steps have been taken to reduce particulate emissions and to educate people about their risks. These emissions are also known as particulate matter or particulate matter pollution, with the vast majority of those emissions coming from factories and about 10% coming from vehicles on the road.
Sometimes, particulate emissions are visible as soot or smoke because the particles are so large. Most aren’t visible, however, which is part of what makes them dangerous, because people aren’t aware that emissions are occurring. Small particles are even more dangerous because they are less likely to get trapped in the mucus linings of the nose and throat.
For animals, particulate emissions pose a threat to cardiovascular and pulmonary health. In the lungs, the particles can block or rupture the air sacs, interfering with lung function. A number of respiratory conditions, including asthma and cancer, are linked to exposure to particulate emissions. Heart muscle and blood vessels can also be damaged by the particulate matter if it enters the bloodstream through the lungs, causing widespread medical problems.
Plants can also be harmed by particulate emissions; the particles can block the leaves so they can’t photosynthesize properly. The climate as a whole can be heavily affected by such emissions, as they can block sunlight from reaching the Earth. The haze caused by particulate matter can interfere with visibility, react with other pollutants to produce dangerous forms of pollution, interfere with air quality to the point that people have difficulty breathing, cause declines in crop yields, and contribute to warming trends global.
The only way to address particulate emissions is to reduce particulate matter production and improve filtration so that when they are produced, they are less likely to be released. Many fuel efficiency standards that are designed to improve air quality address this issue, and factories and motor vehicles are required to use emission filter systems to remove particles from the air. While there is little that can be done about the particulate matter that has already been released, people can take steps to minimize the production of additional materials and avoid incidents like the infamous Great Smog of 1952 that killed thousands in London, England .
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