particulate matter

"Particulate Matter", also known as Particle Pollution, is a complex mixture of extremely small particles and liquid droplets. Particle pollution is made up of a number of components, including acids, organic chemicals, metals and soil or dust particles. From December 2013 - April 2014 APT artist Benedikt Partenheimer has been working on the series "Particulate Matter" in China. The series calls attention to air pollution and shows Chinese cities disappearing in their own pollution. Scientific studies have shown that many cities in china (but also in other countries in the world) have become unsafe for human habitation. Air pollution has become too concentrated and too dangerous. What use is economic prosperity and wealth if people have to live in cities where they cannot breathe and where children cannot play outside? Resource scarcity is evident everywhere, oceans, rivers and lakes, forest but also air has become scarce in many places around the world.

AQI as used in the titles of the photographs stands for "Air Quality Index" and indicates the degree of air pollution.

AQI 0-50 - Good

AQI 51-100 - Moderate

AQI 101-150 - Unhealthy for sensitive groups

AQI 151-200 - Unhealthy

AQI 201-300 - Very Unhealthy

AQI 300-500 – Hazardous