Home Biome

Discover your home's dusty little secrets ...

What is the Home Biome?

Biome

A biome is a community of flora and fauna naturally coexisting in a specific environment.

The major biomes are forests, deserts, grasslands, and tundra.

The flora and fauna of each biome share traits that help them survive in their particular environment. 

Home Biome

Our homes are now a major biome as well, with a distinct community evolving alongside unique environmental characteristics.

Earth's fastest growing biome is the indoor environment.

There is evidence of interaction between the chemical components of our house dust and the biological community of the home biome.

Biome

A biome is a community of flora and fauna naturally coexisting in a specific environment.

The major biomes are forests, deserts, grasslands, and tundra.

The flora and fauna of each biome share traits that help them survive in their particular environment. 

 

Home Biome

Our homes are now a major biome as well, with a distinct community evolving alongside unique environmental characteristics.

Earth's fastest growing biome is the indoor environment.

There is evidence of interaction between the chemical components of our house dust and the biological community of the home biome.

Why is dust important?

People spend an average of 90% of their day inside. This makes understanding the interactions between chemical, biological, and physical particles within the home biome vital. All three of these characteristics exist within the dust in your home.

Chemical

  • Chemical

    Carcinogenic chemicals, neurotoxins, and pesticides cover a fraction of the hundreds of chemicals present in house dusts

Biological

  • Biological

    Organisms in dust motes represent a range of sizes, between visible mites and microscopic bacteria, both harmful and benign

Physical

  • Physical

    Among others, metals like lead, chromium, and nickel collect on dust motes in varying concentrations

The interactions between these dust characteristics directly relate to the effects that they can have on health and the air quality of the home biome.

Explore dust around the globe with our Global Map ...

View spotlight applications ...

And meet the people behind the project.