Household Dust Bunnies May Be Harmful To Your Health

Dust bunnies have some positive attributes as low maintenance pets.  There is no need to walk them, no feeding and no vet bills.  Unfortunately they do pose a very serious health risk.  Residential dust is associated with exacerbating respiratory and dermatological conditions and as a risk factor for serious diseases including cancer.  Becoming aware of the sources of household dust is an important first step to prevention.   Many people believe the primary source is dead human skin cells.  Research conducted at the University of Arizona Tucson resulted in a method of modeling and quantifying household dust.  Their study suggests that 60% of dust inside a house actually comes from outside the home.  It is tracked into the home by humans and pets and large quantities often come from the air.  To the human eye the air appears clear – it is not.  

The many sources of dust generated from inside the home include cleaning agents, cooking, smoking, and fibers from clothing, drapes and furniture.  Carpets are a particularly problematic source both because of the contaminants harbored in the fibers which become repeatedly airborne from walking and also the breakdown over time of the fibers themselves.  Cleaning agents used in the home can also be a source of contamination.  Pet and human skin cells also represent about 40% of dust generated from inside the house.

Prevention can be addressed in many ways including using air filtering systems, changing filters often, controlling pests, removing shoes before entering the home, and good house cleaning procedures.  There are considerations when choosing where to live as each region has a different set of potential contaminants.  Irrespective of geographic location, living near heavily trafficked highways, radiofrequency electromagnetic fields or similar sources of manmade pollutants should be avoided.  McClellan Family Chiropractic is dedicated to sharing the latest information on health issues with our patients and community.

Free full text of the U. of Arizona Tucson can be found here: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2782798/?tool=pubmed