Particulate Matter From California Wildfires Is More Toxic Than Particulate Matter In Ambient Air
Friday, February 13, 2009 - 12:35
in Physics & Chemistry
A study of coarse and fine particulate matter (PM) generated by the California wildfires of 2008 suggests a toxicity level greater than that of an equivalent dose of PM in ambient air. The study adds to growing literature supporting source and component specific differences in toxicity of pollutant particles of a given size, and challenges regulators to consider toxicity as well as mass or size when regulating particle pollution.