Our new device can monitor the environment around you, accurately measuring a wide range of PM, volatile organic compounds (VOCs) like acetone, methanol, formaldehyde, and harmful gases. We can also detect PM1, PM2.5, and PM10 pollutants, such as dust, pollen, soot, and mould spores.
What are PM? These are extremely fine particulate matter (PM) particles of diameter less than 1 micron — significantly smaller than PM 2.5 (of diameter 2.5 microns) that have been at the centre of discussions on particulate matter in the air.
PM 10, PM 2.5 and PM 1 particles make up the total suspended particulate matter in the air surrounding you and are in the air that you breathe. These particles, byproducts of emissions from factories, vehicular pollution, construction activities and road dust, are not dispersed, and stay suspended in the air that we breathe. 1 micron is about a thousandth of a millimetre.
Why are PM 1 particles more harmful than PM 2.5 or PM 10?
The finer the particles, the more difficult they are to disperse — and the deeper they can penetrate into the blood stream, causing more harm. PM 10, which are smaller than 10 microns in diameter, enter the respiratory tract, and have been associated with risks like bronchitis, asthma, and upper respiratory tract infections.
PM 10 aggravate symptoms of existing diseases more than triggering new conditions.
PM 2.5 are considerably finer, penetrate into the lower respiratory tract or deeper in the respiratory tract, and the blood stream, causing cardiovascular problems.
PM 1, which are so much finer than PM 2.5, can penetrate the cardiovascular stream even further, and give rise to lasting conditions, such as predisposing people to heart diseases. Studies in the west have shown that PM 1 can lead to premature births and affect foetal development.
This additional service is totally free when you book any thermal image survey. If we detect higher levels of PM in the atmosphere around you we can suggest various ways of improving the quality of the air that you breathe.