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fibers not fiberglass (C) Daniel Friedman Chemical Contaminants in Building or House Dust
Hazards, research, advice

Chemical contaminants & hazards in some house dust or building dust:

This article series describes the common as well as less-common constituents of house dust and typical office building dust. We also describe particles that may indicate indoor air quality concerns, hazardous conditions, or other building conditions that may be detected or perhaps simply suggested by the presence of certain particles in air, in settled building dust, or in vacuum-cleaner collected or clothes dryer-collected dust and lint.

InspectAPedia tolerates no conflicts of interest. We have no relationship with advertisers, products, or services discussed at this website.

Chemical Contaminants May be Carried by House Dust

fibers not fiberglass (C) Daniel Friedman Typical components of house dust and typical office building dust are dominated by fabric fibers and skin cells. Common too are lower levels of dust mite fecals, insect fragments, and air-delivered pollen and mold, though the levels of these varies seasonally and by changes in the indoor environment such as in humidity.

Watch out: We do not recommend that every building be screened for mold nor other problem particles. But when conditions warrant, further investigation is appropriate.

Also see MOLD / ENVIRONMENTAL EXPERT, HIRE ? for help in deciding if it's appropriate to bring in a professional to assess indoor health risks.

Separately in some articles we cite below, indoor air quality may be affected by gases mixed into indoor air, such as formaldehyde, but less obvious are potentially harmful chemicals or particles borne in, on, or attached to particles of ordinary house dust. Fergusson et al (1986) point out that heavy metals may also be present in dust samples.

Many researchers have cited endocrine disruptors, arsenic, BPA, PBDEs, and other contaminants that may be present at harmful levels in the dust of some buildings. Recent news articles in the popular media such as the New York Times (2017) as well as scholarly-research articles (Stapleton 2005) describe a higher level of possible risk of chemical contaminants carried into house dust than many had previously understood.

Watch out: usually the dominant constituents of house dust (fabric fibers, skin cells) do not pose a health hazard to humans.

However some substances that can occur at high levels in the dust of some buildings such as lead can be dangerous, and it is possible that lower levels of some particles such as PBDEs may be unsafe, particularly for populations at extra risk, such as pregnant women, the elderly, children (Gevao 2006), people who are immune-impaired, asthmatics.

There may be other less-expected contaminants in building dust. For example, following a sewage flood or septic back-up in a building, both bacterial and viral hazards may be attached to common house dust particles. See SEWAGE CONTAMINANTS.

List of Harmful Chemicals, Metals or other Contaminants Present in Some Building Dust

Dog dander allergens (C) Daniel FriedmanThe photo of dark pink fragments shown here illustrates a mix of skin cells (larger fragments) and dog dander heavily stained with acid fuchsin and examined in our forensic laboratory. Normally these human skin and animal dander particles are hyaline (colorless). Skin cells and where pets are present, pet dander are entirely common in buildings. They are not harmful, though high levels of pet hair and pet dander can be a problem for asthmatics or for people with allergies.

Examples of more dangerous pathogens and chemicals that might contaminate or become attached to more-ordinary house dust particles (such as fabric fibers, soil particles, even skin cells in house dust) include the following:

What to Do about Indoor Dust Hazards

For normal households, ordinary damp wiping, mopping, and vacuuming can reduce the level of indoor dust. A better approach to reducing the level of indoor dust (in our OPIONION) is to permanently get rid of wall-to-wall carpets and to minimize the use of heavy-upholstered furnishings.

Where there is a specific problem particle, chemical, or contaminant in a building and that is showing up in building dust, the steps to correct the problem must start by identifying the problem source and then clean, cover, or remove it.

For example if there is a concern for high levels of polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs), then the fabrics, carpets, or other soft goods that were treated with fire retardant need to be identified and perhaps removed.

Quite different, a problem with lead dust will usually be traced to lead paint on window sashes, trim, or in older buildings, even on walls and ceilings. Lead abatement procedures typically require removal of old lead paint using safe procedures and re-coating of surfaces. Heavy metals from a sewage backup or from a home subjected to area flooding probably mean that the building was not properly cleaned after that unpleasant event.

Different still, a problem with dust mite may be related to the presence of pets or to indoor housekeeping, mouse dander to food storage, mold to building leaks.

Watch out: "magic bullet" treatments that claim to remove some types of indoor contaminants, such as use of an ozone generator can, especially if improperly applied, create new hazards. See OZONE MOLD / ODOR TREATMENT WARNINGS

Watch out: where high levels of very small particles in the few-microns range are present (such as the Aspergillus/Penicillium mold spores shown below), vacuuming with an ordinary household vacuum cleaner may actually increase the level of airborne dust. That's why we recommend use of a HEPA-rated vacuum cleaner.

Research on Chemical Contaminants in House Dust

Dust mite or other insect fecals (C) Daniel Friedman

Photo: dark cylindrical dust mite fecals and Penicillium/Aspergillus mold spores in a tape sample of settled dust in a home where a mold contamination problem was found. The mite fecals themselves may be comprised principally of mold spores but the chains of spores indicate that there was nearby active fungal growth.

 




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Reader Comments, Questions & Answers About The Article Above

Below you will find questions and answers previously posted on this page at its page bottom reader comment box.

Reader Q&A - also see RECOMMENDED ARTICLES & FAQs

Question: how to proceed in solving a bothersome indoor air quality and dust problem

2/19/2014 Karen said:

I found all of your articles to be very professional, forthright, and informative. I have been experiencing some air quality problems in my home.

To the extent that I have developed a severe allergic reaction every time the heat or air condition is on. We had a mold inspection and testing done and the results were negative. Although this was good news the problem persists. I've also discovered black soot on the glass surfaces, an unusually extreme amount of black fiber like particles on surfaces, along with a cottony like dust on services as well.

In addition, the filters in the air condition/heating unit gets very dirty with a dark gray / black substance within a weeks time. Theses are the high grade expensive type filters that should last for a minimum of 90 days. I am at my wits end and don't know what to do next!

We also had the air ducts cleaned to try to rectify the problem but this also did not resolve the issues. I purchased an air purifier which collects the black particle and dust on a daily bases. The particles have also settled on our clothing in the closets.

Finally, there is black soot like substance on the carpet edges against the walls in the bedrooms. The rest of the house has hardwood floors. I'm suspecting that it could be fiberglass particles being released through the HVAC systems and/or the insulation has been infiltrated by mold. - K. 2/19/2014

Reply:

Karen, thanks for the nice comment about our website: we work hard to provide authoritative and unbiased information so I'm always thrilled when someone reports finding our work useful.

Now to the question: without more information about the building, its condition, history, occupant complaints, and absent a smoking gun observation of a significant mold contamination problem, and without an observation of mold odors, I would not start by assuming we are looking at a mold problem.

I would take a careful look at the building and its mechanical systems and at occupant complaints, focused on identifying the highest risk areas that may justify further testing or even invasive inspection if that's appropriate. MOLD / ENVIRONMENTAL EXPERT, HIRE ? has some advice about how we decide if hiring an expert is appropriate compared with a DIY approach or using building cleaning or maintenance contractors or a home inspector to take a look for you.

1. I would not assume that a mold "test" alone would be reliable - with all test methods there is a high risk of false negative results; if your "mold inspection" was by someone who understands buildings, where leaks and water go, where mold grows, etc. that would be most helpful.

2. The HVAC system could have a mold or other respiratory irritant reservoir in the air handler or duct system, but it can also simply be moving air from one building are to another, moving irritants in the process. Pay particular attention to where return air is being picked up.

3. Without more data I would not assume the issue is mold, though if you say the building history includes leak or moisture traps that'd be a reasonable concern.

4. The debris depositing you describe can be easily tested (see our DIY house dust test kit procedure using adhesive tape) and with a competent environmental lab should be inexpensive - sometimes the dust or debris contains something unusual that points to a problem source.

5. Black stains around carpet edges suggests air leakage to me - suggesting air moving up from the space below. If your hone includes a crawl space that's an area deserving careful inspection.

6. Air purifiers: regarding your lack of success trying to address these concerns with a portable air purifier, IMO there is no portable air purifier or more accurately air cleaning machine on the market, nor has there been, nor is there likely to be, that is capable of removing an IAQ problem source in a building any more than you could vacuum dust bunnies from under the living room couch by waving a vacuum cleaner wand in the air in the kitchen. Perhaps in a small, enclosed space that does not itself contain the problem reservoir a portable air filtration device or well-designed central air handling system filtration can reduce the airborne particle level but that's not going to correct the underlying problem.

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