𝐑𝐮𝐫𝐚𝐥 𝐚𝐢𝐫 𝐩𝐨𝐥𝐥𝐮𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐦𝐚𝐲 𝐛𝐞 𝐚𝐬 𝐡𝐚𝐳𝐚𝐫𝐝𝐨𝐮𝐬 𝐚𝐬 𝐮𝐫𝐛𝐚𝐧, 𝐬𝐭𝐮𝐝𝐲 𝐟𝐢𝐧𝐝𝐬 New research shows that chemical reactivity, seasonality and distribution of airborne particulate matter are critical metrics when considering air pollution's impact on human health. Current environmental regulations focus on the mass of pollutant particles, and researchers at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign are pushing to refocus regulatory efforts on more regional and health-relevant factors. A new study of air quality in the Midwestern U.S. found that measuring the mass concentration of PM2.5—particles that are 2.5 micrometers in diameter or smaller—does not correspond well with current methods for classifying particle toxicity. Additionally, the researchers found that PM2.5 exposure may be just as hazardous in rural areas as in urban areas—evidence that challenges a common misconception that air pollution is more toxic in urban areas than in than rural areas, the researchers said. https://phys.org/news/2022-01-rural-air-pollution-hazardous-urban.html