What Are the Different Kinds of Air Pollutants? Camfil Canada Air Pollution Experts Explain Particulate Matter, VOCs, and More

What Are the Different Kinds of Air Pollutants? Camfil Canada Air Pollution Experts Explain Particulate Matter, VOCs, and More –Updated August 7, 2024

In Canada, air pollution is linked to at least 15,000 premature deaths per year. Globally, an estimated 7 million people die prematurely due to exposure to harmful airborne pollutants from outdoor and indoor air pollutants. In this article, air quality experts from Camfil Canada, a global leader in air filtration research and engineering, talk about harmful air pollutants and how to address each of them.

A recent study on ultrafine particles at McGill University in Montreal, Canada stated, ” Ultrafine particles (UFPs) primarily come from vehicle emissions and industrial activities. Canada’s federal and provincial governments have not set concentration limits for UFPs, as they have for larger fine particles known as PM2.5.” The study found that 1100 premature deaths per year in Montreal and Toronto can be attributed to ultrafine particles that have escaped attention until now.

“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.” “However, until now, studies have not examined the impacts of
UFPs on mortality in Canada.”
Principal Investigator Scott Weichenthal, Associate Professor in McGill’s Department of Epidemiology, Biostatistics, and Occupational Health.

Environment Canada designates six main air pollution challenges to be tackled through policy and research:

acidic deposition
climate change
stratospheric ozone depletion
hazardous air pollutant
surface oxidant episodes
suspended particulate matter

The major sources of air pollution in Canada include:

Transportation: Emissions from cars, trucks, buses, and other vehicles contribute significantly to air pollution.
Industrial Activities: Factories, refineries, and power plants release pollutants into the air.
Energy Production: Burning fossil fuels for electricity generation is a major source of air pollutants.
Residential Heating: Wood stoves and fireplaces can emit particulate matter and other pollutants.
Agriculture: Activities such as livestock farming and the use of fertilizers release ammonia and other pollutants.
Natural Sources: Wildfires, dust storms, and volcanic activity also contribute to air pollution.

These sources release particulate matter (PM2.5, PM1), nitrogen oxides (NOx), sulfur oxides (SOx), volatile organic compounds (VOCs), and ammonia (NH3), which can have significant impacts on health and the environment.

Though each of these categories is assessed by its own cluster of scientists, analysts, and pollution experts, each is interconnected. Removing hazardous air pollutants from the air, for example, will help reduce instances of surface oxidant episodes (corrosion). These categories focus mainly on the consequences caused by air pollution rather than the specific solutions to best address them.

What Are the Two Main Categories of Air Pollutants in Air Filtration?

For air filtration purposes, there are two main categories of air pollutants: particulate matter and gaseous pollutants (also referred to as molecular pollutants). Each type of pollutant is removed from the air in a different way and requires different air filtration products, so it is important to understand the distinction between the two.

What is Particulate Matter?

Particulate matter is defined as any solid or liquid particle small enough to be suspended in the air. Some of these particles, such as dust and smoke, are large enough to see with the naked eye, while others are so small that you would need an electron microscope to be able to see them. The human body deals with larger particles much better than it does with smaller particles. The smallest particles, PM2.5 and PM1 are the ones that penetrate deep into lungs and the cardiovascular system and cause the most damage to human health.

There are three subcategories of particulate matter, which are divided based on the diameter of particles:

PM10 refers to particles with a diameter of 10 microns (micrometers) or less. PM10 may also be referred to as “coarse particles.” Although PM10 is inhalable, our lungs are usually able to filter out particles of this size and prevent them from entering the bloodstream.
PM2.5 refers to particles with a diameter of 2.5 microns or less. PM2.5, which is also referred to as “fine particulate matter,” is small enough to enter the lungs and do serious damage over time. Many studies on the health effects of particulate matter focus on PM2.5 or smaller. The infected respiratory aerosols that are responsible for spreading airbourne viruses are typically classified as PM2.5. This fine particulate matter comes from transportation, wood burning stoves, industrial activities, and other sources.
PM1 refers to particles with a diameter of 1.0 microns or less. These particles are the most damaging when inhaled, as they can enter the bloodstream and damage organs.

Examples of particulate matter include:

Pollen and other allergens.
Dust
Smoke
Pet dander
Drops of liquid, including excess humidity (water droplets suspended in the air)
Biological contaminants, such as pathogens and the infected droplets that carry them

Particulate matter is removed from the air with filters that use dense filter media to trap as many particles as possible, such as panel filters and bag filters. Any MERV-rated filter or HEPA filter is designed to filter particulate matter out of the air. However, some filters are far more efficient than others at addressing specific particle sizes, so it is important to speak with an air filtration expert to determine the best solution for your situation.

What Are Gaseous Pollutants?

Gaseous pollutants, on the other hand, include any harmful pollutants that exist in a gaseous state at room temperature. The health and environmental effects of gaseous pollutants vary widely. Examples of common gaseous pollutants include:

Ground-level ozone (O₃).
Nitrogen oxides (NO_x).
Carbon monoxide (CO) and carbon dioxide (CO₂).
Volatile organic compounds (VOCs), which are substances with a high vapour pressure at room temperature. Because a high vapour pressure correlates with a low boiling point, VOCs evaporate readily at room temperature. Common VOCs include formaldehyde, benzene, and ethylene glycol.

Gaseous pollutants are addressed using filters with various carbon medias, potassium permanganate or both , which traps/neutralizes gaseous pollutants.

It is important to note that commercial and residential HVAC systems do not protect our lungs against gaseous pollutants by default. The filters that come with most HVAC only filter out enough particulate matter to protect the equipment from being damaged.

Key Solutions for Particulate Matter and Gaseous Matter:

Bag Filters: These are suitable for high dust-loading applications and offer a combination of media for capturing both particles and molecules.
Compact Filters: Designed for installation in front or side access housings, these filters are efficient in removing particulate matter.
Panel Filters: A full size standard is: 24-inch by 24-inch (WxH) and depths of 1-inch, 2-inch or 4-inch, available in many different sizes.
HEPA Filters: Capture at least 99.97% of airborne particles larger than 0.3 microns. Camfil offers HEPA filters for HVAC systems, cleanrooms, and healthcare facilities.
ULPA Filters: ULPA filters capture 99.9995% of particles larger than 0.12 microns. These are commonly used in pharmaceutical and semiconductor industries.
Air Cleaners: Camfil offers standalone air purifiers like the CamCleaner CC500, which combine HEPA and gas removal filtration to effectively tackle both particles and gases.

Benefits of Camfil’s Solutions:

Camfil’s air filters help create healthier indoor environments by removing harmful particulate matter. Camfil’s filters are also designed to optimize airflow and reduce energy consumption.

Camfil clean air solutions:

To consult with an air filtration expert on the topics covered in this post or for further information, please use this contact form, and an air filtration expert from Camfil Canada will answer any questions you may have.

About Camfil Canada Clean Air Solutions

For more than 60 years, Camfil has been helping people breathe cleaner air. As a leading manufacturer of premium clean air solutions, we provide commercial and industrial systems for air filtration and air pollution control that improve worker and equipment productivity, minimize energy use, and benefit human health and the environment. Read more about Camfil Canada

Sources: American Journal of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine, McGill University www.mcgill.ca/newsroom/channels/news/ultrafine-particles-linked-over-1000-deaths-year-canadas-two-largest-cities-358211

Media Contact:

Berni Baier

Camfil Canada Inc.

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