Government Regulations for PM Emissions

How Air Cleaning Can Keep Businesses in Compliance

According to the US Environmental Protection Service (EPA), extensive scientific research shows that particulate matter (PM) can harm millions of Americans. In an effort to protect its population and prevent costly health problems, they have lowered the allowable levels of PM emissions to help reduce air pollution and improve citizens’ quality of life.

PM Defined

Particulate matter is a measurable combination of liquid and solid particles found in all indoor and outdoor environments. Some of these particles are large enough to be seen by the naked eye, PM10. Others are microscopic, PM2.5. While both types of PM are inhalable, PM2.5 is the most dangerous because it can travel deeper into the lungs and into the bloodstream.

Sources of PM

Outdoor sources of particulate matter – manufacturing smoke, vehicle emissions, pollens – can sometimes enter enclosed spaces through cracks, doors, and windows, but particulate matter generated indoors is the greater threat to human health.

Indoors, smaller spaces with limited ventilation contribute to higher concentrations of fine particles. PM emission sources are everywhere, from dust generated during metal and woodworking to flour disbursement during food processing to fiber discharged during textile manufacturing. Additional sources include chemical fumes and VOC emissions during manufacturing or laboratory research, as well as bacterial and viral microorganisms offset in healthcare settings.

Health Effects

Because fine particles can be inhaled more deeply than larger matter, they can do more harm. Studies have linked PM exposure to many different health problems, including eye, nose, and throat irritation, to more serious conditions like respiratory disease and heart complications. Many studies show that persons with preexisting coronary ailments and lung disease risk premature death.

Government Standards and Regulations

When a government agency issues a standard for a pollutant, it is a precise limit on how much can be emitted by any given business. A regulation details the compliance requirements and procedures to meet the standard, including the enforcement mechanisms.

While no government agency regulates indoor air quality in a general sense, OSHA, for example, sets standards for specific pollutants like particulate matter through its Permissible Exposure Limits (PELs), which restrict emissions of specific hazardous substances, which, in turn, protects workers from how much PM they can be exposed to during their workday.

The EPA, on the other hand, maintains National Ambient Air Quality Standards (NAAQS) for particulate matter. Also known as PM NAAQS, these standards were strengthened in early 2024. The unit of measurement the EPA uses to quantify the concentration of a substance in the air is micrograms per cubic meter. As of last year, it lowered the annual PM2.5 from 12.0 μg/m3 to 9.0 μg/m3.

Compliance and Control Measures

The EPA’s rules to reduce pollutant emissions that form PM will help state and local governments meet the agency’s national air quality standards. However, compliance with these standards could present industrial hardships if not addressed properly by the businesses to which they apply.

To stay within the regulatory agencies’ established PM limits, companies should:

1. Identify sources of particulate matter in order to target reduction
2. Regularly maintain equipment to ensure optimal performance
3. Track emissions with monitoring equipment
4. Dilute contaminated air with fresh outdoor air through proper ventilation
5. Employ the use of air cleaning products such as air purifiers with HEPA or ULPA filters

Understanding the role particulate size plays in IAQ is essential for safeguarding health. At AIRSInc., we have a wide range of air cleaning products such as our CM-1800 Ceiling Mount Air Cleaner, that will remove particulate matter – even the smallest particles – at its source.

Contact one of our indoor environmental specialists today for a free estimate.  

Air Scrubbers & Negative Air Machines

Extract-All® Air Scrubbers are recirculating air cleaning systems that work by capturing airborne contaminants, pulling them through filter media, then returning the clean air into the room. With a powerful motor designed for long-term use, an Extract-All® Air Scrubber will replace the air in a medium-large room every 10 to 12 minutes.

Extract-All ® Negative Air Machines work by completely removing filtered air from a contained room instead of recirculating it, causing the area to stay under negative air pressure. These HEPA air scrubbers keep airborne contaminants from traveling to adjacent rooms, hallways, and other areas.

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