What is particulate matter?

• Mouth or nose breathing. Breathing through your mouth allows particles to travel deeper into your lungs.
• Exercise. While exercising, particles can travel deeper.
• Age. Older people breath less deeply so particles may not get as deep.
• Lung disease. If lung diseases block the airway, particles will not travel as far.
• Weather (temperature).
• Other pollutants in the air.

•     Coughing, wheezing, shortness of breath
•     Aggravated asthma
•     Lung damage (including decreased lung function and lifelong respiratory disease)
•     Premature death in individuals with existing heart or lung diseases

(Content source: www.airinfonow.org)