How does particulate matter enter the atmosphere?

Questions › Category: Pollution › How does particulate matter enter the atmosphere?

2 Vote Up Vote Down

Aayesha Gala asked 7 years ago

Summary

How does particulate matter enter the atmosphere?

Article Name

How does particulate matter enter the atmosphere?

Description

Several different sources are responsible for the release of different types of pollutants in the atmosphere. Particulate Matter also has multiple sources of entry into the atmosphere.

Author

Team GreenSutra

Publisher Name

GreenSutra

Publisher Logo

Question Tags: actonlcimate, air, airpollution, airquality, climatechange, expertscorner, globalwarming, greensutra, particulatematter, pm, pollution, smoke, soot

1 Answers

1 Vote Up Vote Down

Best Answer

Team GreenSutra® Staff answered 7 years ago

Particulate Matter can be organic and inorganic in nature. Some of these particles are:

Dust
Pollen
Soot
Smoke
Mineral Dust

The following are the two methods on how these particulate matter can enter the atmosphere:

Direct – Like when fuel is burnt and when dust is carried by wind, or
Indirect – Like when gaseous pollutants previously emitted to air turn into particulate matter

Some common direct and indirect sources include:

Emissions from Motor vehicles
Wood burning stoves and fireplaces
Dust from construction, landfills, and agriculture
Wildfires
Brush/waste burning
Industrial Emissions
Windblown dust from open lands