Final answer:
Ash, dust, pollen, and salt particles are examples of particulate matter, tiny pollutants in the air that affect health and visibility, and include substances like smog and ingredients of cosmic events like meteors.
Step-by-step explanation:
Ash, dust, pollen, and tiny bits of salt from water are examples of particulate matter, which are small particles such as dust, dirt, viral particles, and bacteria found in the air. These microscopic substances can be solid or liquid and are often suspended in the air we breathe. Particulate matter like pollen, dust, and salt crystals can absorb light and have various effects on health and the environment. Common examples of particulate matter include smoke and the dust in the air which are visible signs of these pollutants. Meteorites, which survive their journey through the Earth's atmosphere and land on the ground, along with cosmic dust that burns up to create meteors in the sky, are also made up of particulates.
Substances like smog, which is a mixture of air pollutants, also consist of particulate matter that can implicate respiratory diseases such as asthma and bronchitis. The ability of particulate matter to absorb light means they play a crucial role in cloud formation and can impede visibility in the atmosphere, affecting both weather patterns and human health.