Common Air Pollutants
Educating our community about air quality.
Common Air Pollutants
One common type of air pollutant is fine particulate matter, measured in PM2.5, which is the amount of fine particulate matter with a diameter of 2.5 micrometers or less. The recommended PM2.5 is 5 µg/m^3. The average U.S. city has a PM2.5 of 10µg/m^3, while Brazoria County has a PM2.5 of 12µg/m^3.
What are the types of air pollutants in Brazoria’s air?
Along with PM2.5, Brazoria County’s air is polluted by ozone, carbon monoxide, sulfur dioxide, and nitrogen dioxide. Some less common pollutants are volatile organic compounds (VOCs), hazardous air pollutants (HAPS), and black carbon.
exposure can lead to lung damage and higher risk of cardiovascular and neurological diseases. Exposure to carbon monoxide can lead to damage in the heart and brain. Both nitrogen and sulfur dioxides can lead to chronic respiratory issues after constant exposure.
Where do these particles come from?
The air pollutants have an industrial source, including petrochemical and power plants. These create pollutants as a byproduct and emit them into the air with no way to dispose of them. Additionally, vehicles such as cars emit large amounts of nitrogen oxides and carbon monoxide.These particles in the air are hazards to the population and must be dealt with if we want to avoid the long-term health problems our community will face in the future.