Particle needs to be 10 microns or less before it can be inhaled into human respiratory tract. But just how small are these specks from smaller to larger.
Diameter difference in μm
Comparing particles found in earth of diameter of μm.
Invisible for Naked Eye
0.03 μm to 0.05 μm
Zika Virus
0.045 μm
T4 Bacteriophage
0.225 μm
Corona virus
0.1 μm to 0.5 μm
Wildfire Smoke
0.4 μm to 0.7 μm
Wildfire smoke can persist in the air for several days, and even months.
Bacteria
1 μm to 3 μm
Spider Web Silk Thread
2 μm to 3 μm
Dust Particle (PM2.5)
2.5 μm
Respiratory Droplets
5 μm to 10 μm
Respiratory droplets have the potential to carry smaller particles within them, such as dust or Coronavirus (COVID-19)
Red Blood Cell
7 μm to 8 μm
Dust Particle (PM10)
< 10 μm
Visible with Naked eye
The visibility limits for what the naked eye can see hovers around 10 μm to 40 μm
Grain of Pollen
15 μm
Pollen can trigger allergic reactions and hay fever which 1 in 5 Americans experience every year
White Blood Cell
25 μm
Grain of Salt
60 μm
Fine Beach Sand
90 μm
Human Hair
50 μm to 180 μm diameter
Note: 1 micron equals to 1μm (one Micrometre or Micro meter).
Posted Infographic in Science