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Divisions > Air Resources > Programs/Bureaus/Units > Particle Pollution >

Particle Pollution (Particulate Matter)

Particulate matter (PM), particulates, or particle pollution are general terms for solid or liquid particles found in the atmosphere. Particle pollution is broken down into categories based on the size of its diameter in micrometers (or microns). Total suspended particles (TSP) consist of all particles , regardless of size. "Coarse" particles (PMco arse) are larger than 2.5 microns in diameter and "fine" particles (PM2.5) are those less than 2.5 microns in diameter. PM10 consists of all particles smaller than 10 microns. For comparison, a human hair is approximately 70 microns in diameter. Some particles enter the air as solids while others form secondarily from condensing gases or as the result of a chemical reaction of gases, typically sulfur dioxide, nitrogen oxides, and volatile organic compounds. more...

Hot Topics

• Air Quality Current Data for New Hampshire (Maps)
• Air Quality Forecast for New Hampshire (Maps)

Publications

• Air Quality Information in New Hampshire (Fact Sheet ARD-16)
• Regulating Nitrogen Oxide Emissions (Fact Sheet ARD-9)
• Report: Air Pollution Transport and How It Affects New Hampshire

Rules/Regulatory

• Env-A 300: Ambient Air Quality Standards
• Env-A 2500: Pulp and Paper Industry: Particulate Matter and Visible Emissions Standards

Education/Outreach

• AirCompare – Comparing Air Quality in Different Locations across the U.S.
• EnviroFlash – Air Quality and UV Index Notification System
• EPA State and County Emission Summaries for NH [PM2.5]
• What Can I Do to Help Reduce Air Pollution?

Technical Assistance

• State Implementation Plan for 1997 Ozone and Fine Particulate Matter Standards – Transport Provisions
• New Hampshire’s Section 126 Petition for Abatement of Excessive Upwind Emissions

Related Programs

• Air Pollutants of Concern
• Air Quality Monitoring and Data
• Regional Haze

Partnerships

• Northeast States for Coordinated Air Use Management
• Mid-Atlantic/Northeast Visibility Union (MANE-VU)

Resources/Links

• EPA Particulate Matter webpage

Contact Us

• Jeff Underhill
  Atmospheric Science & Analysis
  NHDES Air Resources Division
  29 Hazen Drive, PO Box 95
  Concord, NH 03302-0095
  (603) 271-1102
  (603) 271-1381 (fax)
  jeffrey.underhill@des.nh.gov
• David Healy
  Atmospheric Science & Analysis
  NHDES Air Resources Division
  29 Hazen Drive, PO Box 95
  Concord, NH 03302-0095
  (603) 271-0871
  (603) 271-1381 (fax)
  david.healy@des.nh.gov

 

 

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NH Department of Environmental Services | 29 Hazen Drive | PO Box 95 | Concord, NH 03302-0095
(603) 271-3503 | TDD Access: Relay NH 1-800-735-2964 | Hours: M-F, 8am-4pm