PM 2.5 dust levels in Thailand are far above the standard and are expected to keep getting worse, especially in the north, bringing air quality to moderate levels and beginning to affect public health on a wide scale. So wouldn’t it be better to have your own air quality meter or air quality monitoring station, so you can control the amount of dust in your home, your car, or even your factory? This also helps keep dust from spreading and harming the health of people living around your home or factory.
But before we talk about air quality meters and air quality monitoring stations, let’s get to know PM 2.5, so everyone is aware of just how harmful this tiny dust can be.
Getting to Know PM 2.5, the Life-Threatening Dust
PM 2.5 is fine dust no larger than 2.5 microns, roughly 1/25 of the diameter of a human hair. It is so small that the hairs in our nose, which filter dust, cannot filter it out, so it spreads into the respiratory tract, the bloodstream, and other organs in the body. PM 2.5 also carries other substances with it, such as cadmium, mercury, heavy metals, and many carcinogens.
Causes of PM 2.5
- Direct sources, including open burning, transportation, power generation, and manufacturing industries
- The combination of other gases in the atmosphere, especially sulfur dioxide (SO2) and nitrogen oxides (NOx), as well as other toxic substances that are all harmful to the human body, such as mercury (Hg), cadmium (Cd), arsenic (As), and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs)
Health Hazards and Effects of PM 2.5
In healthy people, exposure to PM2.5 may not cause noticeable effects at first. But with prolonged exposure or buildup in the body, it will eventually lead to health problems. These can be divided into effects on physical health and effects on the skin.
- Effects on physical health
- Coughing, sneezing, or allergies
- Worsening symptoms in people who already have dust allergies
- Chronic respiratory diseases
- Chronic cardiovascular diseases
- Chronic lung disease or lung cancer
- Effects on the skin
- Itchy rashes on the body
- Burning, stinging, and irritation
- Hives, which in severe cases may appear on the face, in the joint creases, and in the groin
- Damage to skin cells, making the skin weaker and more prone to wrinkles
How to Protect Yourself from PM 2.5
- Wear a dust mask. The most effective mask against PM2.5 is the N95 mask, which is more expensive than a surgical mask, and some people may find it uncomfortable because it makes breathing harder than usual.
- If you don’t use an N95 mask, you can use a 3-layer filter surgical mask, which is usually labeled as protecting against PM 2.5. If you really can’t find one, you can wear two ordinary surgical masks, or place a handkerchief or tissue inside the mask.
- Try to avoid all outdoor activities when air quality reaches levels that are hazardous to health.
By now, you probably understand how harmful PM 2.5 is and realize how important it is to have your own air quality meter or air quality monitoring station. There are several types of air quality meters and monitoring stations, divided by application as follows:
- Dust monitors specifically for PM 2.5
- Dust monitors specifically for PM 10
- Portable dust monitors
- Airborne dust monitors
If you’re interested in a PM 2.5 meter or air quality monitoring instrument , you can ask for product details via www.pico.co.th (a supplier of air quality meters, scientific instruments, and other industrial instruments).
PICO has a team of experts in system analysis and project planning, ready to advise you and provide the products best suited to your needs.
Posted: April 27, 2020