The Origin of House Dust

Dust Mites Image: Eric Erbe/USDA

Dusting is not a very popular household cleaning chore but is necessary due to the accumulation of dust and dirt indoors. Scientists in Arizona are reporting that they have found the answer to the question of where indoor household dust originates. Most of the indoor dust comes from outdoors.

Household dust is composed of various particles including dust mites, textile fibers, parts from dead insects, human and animal hair, mold spores, bacteria, and dead human skin cells. Dust is also composed of particles that can be blown or tracked indoors from outside including sand, dirt, pollen grains, lead, and arsenic. The researchers found that over 60 percent of indoor household dust comes from outdoors.

Learn more about this discovery:

• Where Does All This Dust Come From? Science Daily