did you know
HOW dust
AFFECTS YOUR HEALTH
Depending on your health concerns , the amount of dust in your household may or may not have you overly worried . Of course , people who suffer from severe allergies or asthma – or have family members who do – are probably the most likely to take whatever steps are necessary to keep their homes as clean as possible . And those who pride themselves on maintaining a spotless home might go into cleaning warrior mode where , armed with a cloth and furniture polish , they vow never to see a speck of dust again !
by Jennifer Frye
But if you fall somewhere in the middle – busy business owner and / or parent who does their best to keep their home clean but doesn ’ t panic at a dust bunny here or there – then occasional dust build-up might just be something you learn to live with . But is that healthy ? People affected by allergies , asthma , or other respiratory sensitivities know all too well the havoc dust can create for their health . As it turns out , though , dust isn ’ t great for anyone to be breathing in .
Part of what makes dust so unhealthy is what ’ s in it . And the composition of dust changes with the times , as well – the dust in 300 A . D . was different from dust in 1900 , which is different from dust in 2016 . Dust itself is an amalgam : it ’ s hundreds or thousands of possible combinations reflective of a region or specific location where it ’ s found .
WHAT ’ S IN DUST
The specific make up of dust differs in every household according to climate , how old the house is , and the number of people who live there – plus those people ’ s habits , such as
Most disturbingly , dust can contain lead , arsenic , and DDT .
cooking , cleaning , and smoking . Common to most dust , though , no matter the conditions surrounding it , is a combination of bits of human skin , food crumbs , animal fur , dead
or decomposing insects , lint and fibers from fabric , dirt , and small matter from smoking and cooking . Most disturbingly , dust can contain lead , arsenic , and DDT .
According to Time Magazine , roughly 60 % of household dust comes from outside . Windows , doors , and vents let in dust particles , and most significantly , the soles of our shoes do as well .
Smaller particles – often too small to see – tend to stay on our shoes and are shaken off inside our homes .
Paloma Beamer , professor of environmental policy at the University of Arizona , said that “ dust in our homes , especially deep dust in our carpets and furniture , is a conglomerate of substances over the life of the home and can provide a historical record of chemicals that have entered it .” Our houses are like living organisms : once they absorb a contaminant , they may never rid of it completely .
DUST PLUS
Dust that contains organic matter – pollen , mold spores , dander – can trigger allergies and asthma , causing a lot of stress and discomfort . But overall , organic matter in dust is far less worrisome than chemical contaminants and pollutants .
Modern-day dust may also feature a nasty component of particulate from high-traffic areas , both in large cities and near busy roadways , which was virtually a non-factor several hundred years ago . GreenFacts describes Particulate Matter ( PM ) as “ the
enhance magazine | MARCH 2017 51