Understanding PM2.5

One of the most important things I've learned during my journey into indoor air quality is that some of the particles most likely to affect the air we breathe are also the ones we can't see.

PM2.5 refers to tiny airborne particles that are 2.5 microns or smaller in diameter. To put that into perspective, they're around 30 times smaller than the width of a human hair. Because they're so small, they can remain suspended in the air for long periods and easily spread throughout the home.

Many people assume these particles only come from traffic or outdoor pollution, but PM2.5 can also be generated indoors through everyday activities such as cooking, burning candles, using fireplaces, cleaning products and even normal household dust.

The challenge is that these particles are invisible. You can't always see them, smell them or know when they're present, which is why indoor air quality is often overlooked.

As someone who has spent years working in health and safety, I've always believed that understanding potential exposures is the first step towards reducing them. The same principle applies to the air inside our homes.