Carbon monoxide is produced by burning fossil fuels such as gasoline, diesel, natural gas, fuel oil, or coal, especially when combustion is incomplete. Wood burning, agricultural burning, industrial combustion and forest fires also produce carbon monoxide. Particulate Matter Particulate matter is made up of small particles suspended in air. The human body's respiratory system can not filter out particles smaller than 10 microns. They can aggravate existing respiratory or cardiovascular disease and impair the body s defense system, causing greater susceptibility to disease.
Some particles are carcinogenic.
There is also a strong correlation between PM 10 levels and infant mortality. While PM 10 has serious health implications, the particles that make up this smaller size range have been found to be most damaging. In 1997, the EPA slightly relaxed the PM 10 standards and added new, stringent PM 2.5 standards to reflect new health studies. Particulate matter is composed of several substances. The largest portion consists of soil or dust that becomes airborne due to vehicles, wind, construction or agricultural activities.