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Criteria Pollutants    At a Glance    In Depth
Nitrogen Dioxide
Nitrogen Dioxide

Ozone
Ozone

Carbon Monoxide
Carbon Monoxide

Sulfur Dioxide
Sulfur Dioxide

Particulate Matter
Particulate Matter

Lead
Lead

 

Particulate Matter - PM
Under 10 microns in diameter, these fine particles in the air are much smaller than a human hair. They lodge in the deepest parts of our lungs and don't come out.

Source
Particulate matter comes from dirt, soot, car and truck exhaust, cigarette smoke, spray paint droplets, and toxic chemical compounds.

How It Hurts
Fine particulate matter collects in the nose, throat, bronchial tubes and lungs where it causes respiratory infections. It also makes the sky hazy.

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Particulate Matter attacks the lung
PM attacks the lungs

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