What is the Full Form of SPM

What is the Full Form of SPM?

Answer: SPM stands for Suspended Particulate Matter. These are the particles suspended in the earth’s atmosphere. This mixture contains both organic and inorganic particles such as dust, pollen, soot, smoke and liquid droplets. Suspended Particulate Matter is hazardous to health. 

The particles present in the atmosphere may vary in size, origin and composition. The smaller the particles, the deeper they can penetrate into the respiratory tract, and they can prove very hazardous to health. 

Suspended Particulate Matter is divided into two categories:

• Inhalable Coarse Particles: The size of these particles varies from 2.5 micrometers to 10 micrometers. Such particles are found near roadways and dusty industries
• Fine particles: The size of these particles varies above 2.5 micrometers. Such particles are found in dust and smoke

Natural Causes of Suspended Particulate Matter

• Volcanoes: volcano eruptions are a large source of Suspended Particulate Matter that ejects volcanic ash and gases into the atmosphere

• Dust storms: dust storms can blow a heavy cloud of dust with them and throw them into the atmosphere which takes a long time to settle on the ground

• Forest and grassland fires: forest and grassland fires make a complex mixture that contains poisonous gases such as hydrogen cyanide, and carbon monoxide which get mixed up in the atmosphere and makes it hazardous

• Living vegetation: living vegetation emits particles into the atmosphere like isoprene, and methanol adds up to the Suspended Particulate Matter in the atmosphere

Man Made Causes of Suspended Particulate Matter

• Coal combustion: the burning of coal is still evident in many parts of the country to generate heat. But the burning of coal adds carbon dioxide and other harmful particulates to the atmosphere

• Oil combustion: oils are used to run vehicles and motors and in turn, these emit harmful particulates that pollute the atmosphere