Indoor Ecosystems

Mud Room

Indoor Dust Sources

Dust is composed of particles from many different sources, some of which originate inside the home and others that are brought in from outside.

Shoes and clothing can carry particles collected from each step taken

Chemicals from paint, cleaning products, or flame retardants can attach to home dust

Microbes and allergens can be brought in by the wind, pets, or people

 

Dust Breakdown

The dust inside our homes contains a variety of factors:

  • allergens
  • micro plastics
  • microbes
  • chemicals
  • metals
  • organisms 

All of these combine to form the indoor ecosystem. 

 

 

Learn More Here

Metals

Metals

Strong correlations between metal contamination of outdoor environments and antimicrobial resistance (AMR) has recently been reported. High metal concentrations can be dangerous additions to the home.

Microbes

Microbes

These microorganisms are mostly bacteria and fungi. Some come from outside, but others originate inside the home.

Pollen

Allergens

Allergens in dust particles and can penetrate deep into the lung, making asthma and other allergies worse. 

Mites

Organisms

Some organisms like ticks or termites are clearly visible. But others like dust mites and lice are far more difficult to discern at a glance.

Fiber

Micro Plastics

These are small plastics, less that 5mm in length, that are present in cosmetics, synthetic clothing, plastics bags, and bottles, to name a few.

Chemicals

Chemicals

Hundreds of chemicals can be contained in dust, including carcinogenic chemicals, endocrine active chemicals, and pesticides. 

 

Dust Breakdown

The dust inside our homes contains a variety of factors:

  • allergens
  • micro plastics
  • microbes
  • chemicals
  • metals
  • organisms 

All of these combine to form the indoor ecosystem. 

 

 

Metals

Metals

Strong correlations between metal contamination of outdoor environments and antimicrobial resistance (AMR) has recently been reported. High metal concentrations can be dangerous additions to the home.

Microbes

Microbes

These microorganisms are mostly bacteria and fungi. Some come from outside, but others originate inside the home.

Pollen

Allergens

Allergens in dust particles and can penetrate deep into the lung, making asthma and other allergies worse. 

Mites

Organisms

Some organisms like ticks or termites are clearly visible. But others like dust mites and lice are far more difficult to discern at a glance.

Fiber

Micro Plastics

These are small plastics, less that 5mm in length, that are present in cosmetics, synthetic clothing, plastics bags, and bottles, to name a few.

Chemicals

Chemicals

Hundreds of chemicals can be contained in dust, including carcinogenic chemicals, endocrine active chemicals, and pesticides. 

Learn More Here

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Looking Deeper at Household Dust

Some bacterial pathogens in household dust are unaffected by pharmaceutical drugs, due to the presence of antimicrobial resistant (AMR) genes. The prevalence of these genes is a growing concern, reducing the reliability of antibiotic treatments.

Learn More Here