How is dust created

Note: Content may be edited for style and length. Science News. Journal Reference : Layton et al. ScienceDaily, 29 October American Chemical Society. Retrieved November 10, from www. Since dust is made up of things like pet dander and dead skin — some of dust mites favorite snacks — the more dust you have, the more dust mites you have. Pet dander — the tiny flecks of skin that animals shed — is another common allergen found in dust. When pet dander gets into the air and settles, it collects dust and dust mites, exacerbating the problem.

Instead, what dead skin is floating around in your home acts as a magnet for dust mites and other indoor air pollutants. However, all too often, small food particles are dropped and forgotten, making them a natural component of dust. The body parts and fecal matter of insects, especially cockroaches, are commonly found in dust. If you happen to be allergic to cockroaches, this could aggravate allergic reactions.

However, in the study we mentioned above, researchers found that lead, arsenic, and DDT can be present in dust, albeit in trace amounts. Even in relatively low concentrations, arsenic is not without risk, especially to small children who play on the floor and routinely transfer things from their hands to their mouths. The same is true for lead, which comes less from wall paint — the source most people would expect — than from auto exhaust, smelting and soil deposits.

The fact that DDT is still in house dust is a surprise to most people, since the pesticide was banned in the U. But a house is a little like a living organism: once it absorbs a contaminant, it may never purge it completely. Not only can dust make your home look and feel dirty, it can also impact your health. Generally, the type and size of a dust particle determine how toxic it is and which part of your respiratory tract it irritates. The larger dust particles are usually trapped in your nose and mouth and are easily breathed out.

Finer dust particles pose more risk; they are able to penetrate your lungs and, if ultrafine, can be absorbed directly into your bloodstream. Thank you! Analytical Chemistry Tracing the chemistry of household dust Researchers are finding an ever-growing list of chemicals in dust and are trying to understand what the compounds mean for our health by Janet Pelley February 7, A version of this story appeared in Volume 95, Issue 7.

Credit: Shutterstock. House dust gathers toxic chemicals and is a source of exposure to these compounds. Credit: National Resources Defense Council. Nontargeted analysis has revealed that chlorinated paraffins representative compounds in blue , nonylphenol ethoxylates green , and azo dyes, many built using 2-bromo-4,6-dinitroaniline red as a backbone, are major components of household dust.

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Submit Sending Joe Valko February 8, PM. I am surprised that volatilized fats from cooking food did not get mentioned amidst the categories of components detected in house dust. Granted a very complex array of compounds is present, but in a house where food preparation occurs regularly, I would think that it might be a more significant component.

They are there and they are prominent, they are just not easy and interesting enough for the dust as toxic story. Anderson February 8, PM. You might also check for radon daughters. One of the daughters is Pb which has a half-life of It is non-volatile and should cling to dust.

A nightmare experienced by myself and my daughter has been the "chimney bomb" application of Ansul Foray, a dry chemical fire extinguisher that is an impossible to remove corrosive irritant. After three years of intensive cleaning we still have serious eye and lung irritation, sudden neuronal hearing loss, loss of vision, bilateral tumors, acute pain from cranial vascular spasms, and on and on.

What seems to odd is that no one seems to be interested in this phenomenon. Nor can we find physicians that are informed of these exposures or know of the potential injuries, much less able to treat the effects. Scientists often say they cannot experiment on humans, but we humans have already be used as lab rats and no one is willing to study our reactions.

There are thousands of cases of chemically injured people that can verify their exposures. The issue mentioned above about radon daughters is correct.

In our home we found cpm of alpha radiation on air filters after contamination with dry chemical fire extinguisher. Three years later with regular negative air ventilation and copius cleaning the level is down to cpm. Still too high, but better. Terry Grim February 16, PM. What are the actual chemicals in Ansul Foray that you attribute to your symptoms? The company I work for produces chemicals that are used to measure environmental contamination and chemicals and their metabolites in human exposure, and we are always trying to produce these for what are known as "emerging contaminants.

Robert K Simon, Ph. February 10, PM. I am amazed that there was no mention of pesticides used for termite control which requires the use of gallons or more of 0.

Many localities require termite applications when homes are built. Many homes are re-treated with termiticides when termites reappear. Routine "pest control" use of a large variety of chemicals on a monthly or quarterly or semi-annual basis can leave a large dust trail of these chemicals. Pesticides and herbicides used on lawns or in gardens which can be tracked into many houses or lead to child exposure when playing on the lawns. Then add pet chemicals such as fipronil and many others of the past that are added to the dust mix.

David Bearg February 28, PM. Humans shed their skin all day every day. You replace all of your skin every 4 to 5 weeks. Not only do those dead skin flakes collect in your mattress and pillow, but they also collect on the furniture and carpets.

When you disturb these items, the skin flakes become airborne and settle again. Not only do you shed skin, but you also shed hair. Those hairs break down into smaller and smaller particles. Eventually, they are a component of your dust. The same goes for your brow hairs and eyelashes. If you use personal care products on your skin and hair, they can flake off independently of your skin or hair.

Dust can have bits of hair gels, sprays or mousse in them. When your nail polish chips, that chip goes somewhere; it becomes dust. He traveled in a cloud of dust; we pretty much create our own dust as we move about our house. Not only are you a source of dust; but all of your stuff makes dust too. So, your clothing is made of fibers.

These fibers shed and become dust. If you use liquid fabric softener in the wash, you are making even more dust. Fabric softener coats the fibers of fabrics to make them feel soft and even smell good. Then it becomes dust. If your bedroom or bathroom is particularly dusty, it could be the liquid fabric softener you use.

It will remove any softener residue, soften the fabric and cut down on dust. In addition to your clothes, your upholstered furniture, carpet, drapes, curtains, kitchen towels and even your food are sources of dust.