Health Effects

People often live in areas where air pollution can affect their daily life or cause serious health problems. Like the weather, local air quality can change from day to day. The Clean Air Act requires EPA to set National Ambient Air Quality Standards for six common air pollutants. They are particle pollution (often referred to as particulate matter), ground-level ozone, carbon monoxide, sulfur oxides, nitrogen oxides, and lead. These pollutants can harm your health and the environment, and cause property damage. EPA calls these pollutants "criteria" air pollutants because it regulates them by developing human health-based and/or environmentally-based criteria (science-based guidelines) for setting permissible levels. Of the six pollutants, ground-level ozone and particle pollution are the most widespread health threats.

Particulate Matter Health Effects and Advisory Guidelines
"Particulate matter," also known as particle pollution or PM, is a complex mixture of extremely small particles and liquid droplets. Particle pollution is made up of a number of components, including acids (such as nitrates and sulfates), organic chemicals, metals, and soil or dust particles.

The size of particles is directly linked to their potential for causing health problems. Small particles less than 10 micrometers in diameter pose the greatest problems, because they can get deep into your lungs and some may even get into your bloodstream.

Exposure to such particles can affect both your lungs and your heart. Particles of concern include "inhalable particles or PM10" (such as those found near roadways and dusty industries), which are 10 micrometers in diameter and smaller; and "fine particles or PM2.5" (such as those found in smoke and haze), which are 2.5 micrometers in diameter and smaller.

Given possible health effects and a concern for the health and safety of the local public, the Wyoming Department of Environment Quality (WDEQ) uses the EPA’s Air Quality Index guidance and advisory levels to inform sensitive groups and the general public of potential health risks associated with exposures to elevated levels of coarse particulate matter (PM10).