ENVIRONMENTAL TOXICOLOGY (DMS 2513)

MISS NUR HAZIQAH BINTI MOHD NASIR

FINAL ASSIGNMENT
DMOSH 5F SEM 1 JANUARY-MAY 2022

ENVIRONMENTAL TOXICANT:
PARTICULATE MATTER

NAME ID NUMBER
LUQMAN HAKIM BIN ZAIDI 1200903088
SHAHRUL RIZWAN BIN ALIAMAT 1200903029
AMIR MUSTAQIM BIN RAMLI 1200903126
MUHAMMAD LUQMAN HAKIM BIN NORAZAHANI 1200903080
MUHAMMAD NUR FITRI BIN ISMAIL 1200903099
MUHAMMAD MIRZA RAZIQ BIN MOHD ZAILANI 1200903092
Table of Contents

1.0 INTRODUCTION.........................................................................................................3

2.0 CHARACTERISTIC OF SELECTED ENVIRONMENTAL TOXICANTS....................4

3.0 SOURCE OF SELECTED ENVIRONMENT TOXICANTS.........................................5

4.0 EFFECT TO HUMAN AND ENVIRONMENT..............................................................6

5.0 RECOMMENDED CONTROL MEASURE..................................................................8

6.0 REFERENCE.............................................................................................................11
1.0 INTRODUCTION

Particulate Matter (PM) is the compilation of all solid and liquid matter particles that
suspended in the air that considered as hazardous. The airborne Particulate Matter
(PM) is a complex combinations of organic and inorganic substance. The mass and
composition divided into two principles group which is coarse and fine particles. Some
particles are big enough which you can see and also there is some Particulate Matter so
small that you cannot see them in the air.

The Particulate Matter can begin from two different kinds of sources which is primary
and secondary. The primary source can cause its own particulate such as wood stoves
and forest fire meanwhile the secondary sources letting off gases which can form
particles such as power plants and coal fires. This environmental toxicant is harmful to
health based on the type of particles.

Figure 1: Particulate Matter

The World Health Organization (WHO) estimate that over 7 million people around the
world die each year due to fine particle inhalation in polluted air that penetrate deep into
the affected persons lung and cardiovascular system. The disease that maybe occurred
is Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD), stroke, lung cancer, heart disease
and respiratory infection. More that 90% of the death comes from the low and middle-
income countries which mainly from Africa Continent and also Asia.

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2.0 CHARACTERISTIC OF SELECTED ENVIRONMENTAL TOXICANTS

The Particulate Matter (PM) is has its own aerodynamic properties of particles that be
used to determined how this particles being transport into air and how far they can
penetrate the respiratory system of a person. The finer the particles that inhaled and the
worst outcome that will be implicated which stated on above subtopic.

Particulate Matter have irregular shape and their own aerodynamic behaviour that
defined in term of an idealised sphere. The particles sampling and also the description
is based on aerodynamic diameter that can referred as particle size. Even though the
particles may have the same aerodynamic diameter, they may have different shapes
and dimensions also some airborne particle also 10,000 times bigger than other
particles based on its aerodynamic diameter.

The Particulate Matter commonly divided into two main groups which is the coarse and
fine fraction. The coarse fraction containing larger particles which has a size ranging
from 2.5 to 10 µm meanwhile the fine fraction has even smaller particles that can found
which below 2.5 µm. In addition, there is also particles that smaller than 0.1 µm which
are called ultrafine particle which are uncommon. 

Things that can be concluded is, Particulate Matter is a compilation of solid and liquid
that suspended in the air and this environmental toxicant vary in size, origin and
composition. It can be classified by their aerodynamic characteristics because of the
particles are in charge for the transport and removal of particles in the air. Next, it also
in charge of their accumulation inside and outside the respiratory system also lastly they
are associated with the composition of chemical and the sources pf the particles.

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3.0 SOURCE OF SELECTED ENVIRONMENT TOXICANTS

Particulate Matter (PM) is composed of solid and liquid particles in the air that are small
enough to be inhaled, consisting of a variety components such as organic compounds,
metals, acids, soil, and dust. Other than that, it include material from volcanic eruptions
and particles formed from natural gaseous precursors (e.g. sulphates). From the
research, there are data from 12 sites across the country between 2005-2016, which
are sea salt for natural PM because other sources of natural PM, such as dust and
sulphates, can be generated by human as well. Human were not able to separate the
natural from human-generated contributions. Plus, analysis of particle size, composition,
and sources in New Zealand shows that sea salt made the largest contribution to
natural PM.

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4.0 EFFECT TO HUMAN AND ENVIRONMENT

Particulate matter (PM) or also called as particle pollution is the term for a mixture of solid
particles and liquid droplets found in the air. Some particles, such as dust, dirt, soot, or smoke,
are large or dark enough to be seen with the naked eye. Others are so small they can only be
detected using an electron microscope. Particulate matter can be inhaled by humans and cause
serious health effects. There are some circumstances and probabilities that can be the point if
someone being effected by the mentioned environmental toxicant.

4.1 Cardiovascular System Affected (Human Effect)

Among the health effects that can be experienced by humans include cardiovascular
effects which is cardiac arrhythmias and heart attacks. It is triggered by an electrical
malfunction in the heart that causes an irregular heartbeat (arrhythmia). With its
pumping action disrupted, the heart cannot pump blood to the brain, lungs and other
organs. Seconds later, a person loses consciousness and has no pulse.

4.2 Respiratory Problems (Human Effect)

Besides, it can also cause respiratory problems such as asthma attacks and bronchitis. This
occurs because of that particulate matter can get deep into human lungs. Therefore, anyone who
has been affected will experience decreased lung function and increased respiratory symptoms
such as airway irritation, cough or difficulty breathing. In addition, it can also irritate a person's
eyes, nose and throat.

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4.3 Contributing to Acid Rain Effect (Environment Effect)

Acid rain, also known as acid deposition, is a general phrase that refers to any type of
precipitation that contains acidic components, such as sulfuric or nitric acid, that falls to
the ground in wet or dry form from the sky. When Sulphur dioxide (SO2) and nitrogen
oxides (NOX) are released into the atmosphere and carried by wind and air currents,
acid rain occurs. Sulfuric and nitric acids are formed when SO2 and NOX combine with
water, oxygen, and other molecules. After mixing with water and other things, they fall to
the earth. While some of the SO2 and NOX that create acid rain come from natural
sources like volcanoes, the majority of it comes from the combustion of fossil fuels.

4.4 Damaging Sensitive Forest and Farm Crops (Environment Effect)

Particulate matter's effects on flora may be linked to a decrease in the amount of light
required for photosynthesis and an increase in leaf temperature as a result of altered
surface optical characteristics. The diffusion of gases into and out of leaves, which is
controlled by particulate matter load, color, and particle size, is less essential than
changes in energy exchange. Other materials may be taken up over the cuticle,
whereas alkaline particle pollutants may induce leaf surface damage. The ability of
vegetation to intercept particulate matter contributes significantly to the improvement of
air quality in the area of vegetation.

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5.0 RECOMMENDED CONTROL MEASURE

Based on the effects of PM mentioned above, it is clear that we need to take immediate
control measures to prevent any health accidents that happen to the public, especially
those with chronic health problems which can endanger themselves. This is so, some
control measures need to be implemented to reduce problems or cases related to this
Particulate Matter from continuing and infecting the health of others.

5.1 Substitution

Substituting the hazard may not remove all of the dangers connected with the process
or activity and may bring new hazards, but the total damage or health impacts will be
reduced. Substituting the hazard may not remove all of the dangers connected with the
process or activity and may bring new hazards, but the total damage or health impacts
will be reduced. For this particulate matter example is paint that must be taking care by
the swap a solvent-based paint with a water-based paint so that it not harmful for people
that around that place. Caution is advised to ensure a new danger is not brought into
the workplace when swapping one substance for another.

5.2 Engineering Control

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Figure 2: Gravity and Momentum Collectors

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The second control step is, related to engineering controls. Where, for this control
measure includes such as the use of several mechanical devices that are able to
reduce or prevent any hazard that is present from the effect on a particular person.
Therefore, with the use of tools, facilities such as this gravity settling chambers can be
installed mainly to areas that are likely to have particulate matter based on previous
cases.

Gravity settling chambers is one of the sample particulate collection devices that works
to remove a large diameter suspended particles from a gas, which uses the principle of
gravity to inhale and then will resolve the particulate matter that is in the gas stream
through the long chamber on the device. This in turn, the chamber becomes one of the
important requirements that must be present with the gravity settling chamber, which
the carrier gas velocity is reduced.

This is so, with this device will allow particulate matter to settle out of the moving gas
stream under the action of gravity. In fact, with particulate matter that is waste that has
been collected at the bottom of the chamber, will be disposed manually and can be
used again, because this device is a continuous disposal of solid particulates. However,
these gravity settling chambers require a good large physical space for this installation
because this device is large and it takes up space.

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5.3 Administrative Control

In addition, this particulate matter not only exists in the indoor such as buildings and
rooms, but also exists in the outdoor which is in the environment around us which will
come and effect on our health without realizing it, and will also give an effect to changes
in our environment, from being polluted and becoming unhealthy.

The second step is, by doing this administrative control by controlling or reducing the
time we take to spend outdoors. Therefore, to prevent ourselves and others from being
exposed to the environment that may have been polluted due to the effects of smoke
produced by every vehicle on the road, which has a carbon content, as well as the
possibility of having this particulate matter. This is because, this substance as we know,
cannot be seen with the naked eye and can even be seen using tools such as an
electron microscope. For this reason, we need to reduce the time that we spend
outdoors possibly from 4 to 5 hours and reduced to 3 to 2 hours. Therefore, the longer
we are exposed to the outdoors the more particulate that is likely to enter our limbs and
will disrupt the body system and in turn will have a health effect on our body.
Furthermore, we need to always be in areas especially those that have good ventilation,
and a healthy environment to continue to remain safe.

5.4 Personal Protective Equipment (PPE)

This control measure is the last choice of control for particulate matter but can be use
along with the administrative control for a better protection from the air bone dust that
dangerous for our respiratory system by using face mask that appropriate for the type of
particulate matter face mask wide range of disposable dust masks for protection against
fine dusts, solid and liquid particles for a better lung. Also, PPE like Gloves and other
skin protection are required if the dust poses a risk through skin absorption or ingestion,
or if the dust has a direct effect on the skin. this PPE for our body are important to make
sure that any health problems can be taken care of before it can make a bigger
problems.

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6.0 REFERENCE

What is Particulate Matter (PM)? (n.d.). GreenFacts.

https://www.greenfacts.org/en/particulate-matter-pm/level-3/01-presentation.htm#1p0

Geneva Convention. (2018, May 2). 9 out of 10 people worldwide breathe polluted air,
but more countries are taking action. World Health Organization.
https://www.who.int/news/item/02-05-2018-9-out-of-10-people-worldwide-breathe-
polluted-air-but-more-countries-are-taking-action

Particle Pollution | Air | CDC. (2019, September 4). Centers for Disease Control and
Prevention. https://www.cdc.gov/air/particulate_matter.html

Particulate Matter (PM) Basics. (2021, May 26). US EPA. https://www.epa.gov/pm-

pollution/particulate-matter-pm-basics#:%7E:text=Some%20are%20emitted%20directly
%20from,power%20plants%2C%20industries%20and%20automobiles.

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