I have written previously about ultrafine particles, quoting Scott Weichenthal, an Associate Professor in McGill’s Department of Epidemiology, Biostatistics, and Occupational Health:
“Ultrafine particles are incredibly small, allowing them to penetrate deep into the lungs and enter the bloodstream. Increasing evidence suggests these pollutants may contribute to heart and lung diseases, as well as certain forms of cancer."
Ultrafine particles are killing us, and most of us have never even heard of them.Lloyd Alter·August 9, 2024 Read full story
The biggest source of UFPs [ultrafine particles] is from burning gasoline and diesel in cars and trucks.
Now, a new paper, Air quality standards and WHO’s guidance on particulate matter measuring 2.5 μm (PM2.5) questions whether we are measuring them properly. UFPs are usually included in counts of PM2.5, and the number is expressed as weight, in micrograms per cubic meter. However, the mass of UPFs at PM0.1 is negligible compared to the larger PM2.5 particles; you could have millions of them and not even know, and the number matters more than the mass.
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Lloyd Alter
