Clean as hard as you like and you won’t ever eliminate household dust. All you can do is reduce the accumulation. But did you ever wonder what that dust is made up of? Recently, attention has turned to household dust as a source of microplastics, PFAS, and other toxins.
What is dust made of?
Have you ever wondered why there seems to be an almost inexhaustible supply of dust? Where does it all come from, and what is it made of? Dust is actually an incredibly complex mix of things. Let’s look at a few of these.
Environmental sources
Dust exists whether or not humans are around. That’s why abandoned buildings rapidly get full of dust. Much of this dust comes from natural sources such as dust mites, bacteria, even soil particles. Pollen, mold, and fungus spores are also key ingredients in household dust.
Human and animal sources
As you probably already know, living creatures constantly shed cells. This means that dust contains a significant amount of dead skin cells, fragments of hair, and the like. This is even more pronounced if you have a pet in the house.
Manmade substances
Our clothes are constantly shedding tiny fibers as we move around. These fibers are invisible to the naked eye, but they contribute to the level of dust in our homes. Other fabrics in the home also shed fibers. This includes bed linen, towels, and soft furnishings. Carpets also constantly leach minute fibers as we walk about on them.
Air pollution
You may have noticed that there’s more dust around if you live in a city or near an airport or any heavy industry. That’s because automobiles, factories, and jet engines produce tiny particles that become dust when they land on surfaces in your home.
Microplastics in dust
Microplastics are microscopic pieces of plastic that have broken off larger items. Clothes that are made of artificial fibers like nylon or polyester can shed large amounts of microplastics in the form of minute fibers. These are found in dust in significant amounts and can be damaging to health. Moreover, they often carry harmful chemicals with them such as PFAS, BPAs, and phthalates. All these chemicals have been linked to a wide range of health effects including cancers, cardiovascular disease, childhood leukemia, neurological problems, and reproductive health issues.
PFAS forever chemicals
PFAS (standing for per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances) are a large group of manmade chemicals. They have been widely used over the years because of their properties, such as waterproofness, grease-resistance, and stain-resistance. PFAS are often referred to as forever chemicals because they persist for so long in the environment. PFAS is used in stain-resistant coatings on furniture and carpets, durable water-resistant coatings on outdoor clothing, and in other places around the home. That means dust contains significant amounts of PFAS, which can be easily absorbed when you inhale or ingest it.
BPAs and Phthalates
BPAs and Phthalates are both chemicals used in manufacturing plastics. Bisphenol A (BPA) is often found in food containers and other plastics in the house. Phthalates are added to plastics to make them more flexible. They can be found in plastic toys, packaging, and sometimes even food containers. When plastics are found in dust, you can get exposed to these chemicals.
How dust enters the body
Because dust is so small, it can get deep into the lungs and make you cough and splutter. If you already have any lung problems, dust can be dangerous for your health. The body knows this, which is why you sneeze so much if there’s too much dust in the air. But the toxins in the dust are also absorbed in the lungs. Also, you often end up eating dust. Gross right? That means you are ingesting it and any toxins it may contain.
What can you do if you’re worried?
If you are really concerned about your exposure to dust, you can get tested for the toxins it contains.
- PFAS blood tests will give you a measure of how much exposure you have to forever chemicals.
- Urine tests can check for BPAs, phthalates, and other toxins.
Identifying the source of exposure
If your tests show high levels of any of these toxins, you need to work out the most likely source of exposure. Bear in mind you are exposed to all these compounds through a whole host of different sources. For instance, PFAS is widely found in water supplies, cosmetics, and food packaging. BPAs may be used in drinks containers and can be absorbed that way. Phthalates are commonly used in flexible packaging for cosmetics, shampoos, etc.
Reducing dust exposure
Completely eliminating dust is simply not possible. But you can take steps to reduce it to a minimum and also to reduce the amounts of toxins in the dust. Here’s a few ways to reduce the dust:
- Buy or install a vacuum cleaner with high efficiency HEPA filters. Make sure you keep the vacuum cleaner itself clean and well-maintained.
- Replace the filters in your air conditioner frequently. Our tip is if they look really dirty when you replace them, then consider replacing them more often.
- Wipe down surfaces with a wet cloth to absorb dust. Otherwise you’re just releasing it back into the air.
- Avoid the use of spray polishes that promise a dust-free surface. These usually contain PFAS and may actually make the problem worse.
Conclusion
Dust is just a fact of life. But we can and should take steps to reduce our exposure to the potentially harmful chemicals it contains. However, dust is arguably just a symptom of the actual problem. Namely the growing proliferation of potentially toxic manmade chemicals in our environment and our homes. If you really want to reduce your risks, you need to think more broadly about what toxins you may be exposing yourself and your family to.
