What Particles in Your Home Should You Know About?

Have you ever glanced at a sunbeam shining into your home on a warm Sunday afternoon and immediately thought, “Oh my! Look at all that dust in the air!” Chances are you know exactly what we’re talking about. You can have the cleanest house in Colorado, but when the sun shines into the room just right, there they are—all those bothersome dust particles swirling around your living room. Only, they’re not just dust particles…

That’s right—people often think of dust as being little more than some abstract substance that never needs to be examined in a real way. However, as local experts in home inspections, including asbestos testing in Aspen, CO, we can tell you that the dust you see is actually made up of a whole lot of stuff, and very little of it is dirt.

So, what is in the “dust” in your home?

Those tiny particles floating in the afternoon sunlight are actually full of chemicals. A study done by the George Washington University in D.C. found concentrations of 45 different chemicals in dust samples from across 14 states. “Chemicals” is a broad term, however, used to refer to a lot of substances. Some chemicals are harmful, while others are not. So, what about the ones floating around in your home? Let’s take a closer look.

The chemical representing the highest concentration in the dust samples was phthalates, which are chemicals often used to soften plastic. These chemicals are often found in plastics used for food packaging or personal care products, even flooring. Children were often found to have the highest levels of exposure to these chemicals. High concentrations of flame retardants were also found in the dust samples.

Both of the chemical types found in the dust samples have been linked to hormonal disruptions and toxicity in the parts of the body that direct biological development and reproduction. The dust in your home isn’t just making you sneeze—it’s making you sick.

Now that you know, what should you do?

Unfortunately, completely eliminating these chemicals from our homes is nearly impossible. However, there are things you can do to reduce the number of chemical particles in your home. Regular, thorough vacuuming with a vacuum cleaner that has a quality filter is an excellent way to reduce the pollutants in the air. Wiping down dusty surfaces with a wet cloth that can trap the particles, rather than just pushing them around, is another small thing you can do that will make a big difference.

If you are still concerned about what types of contaminants may have found their way into your home, you can have the air quality in your home professionally tested. At HealthSafe Inspections Inc., we offer a variety of home tests, including mold, radon, and asbestos testing in Aspen, CO. If you want to keep your family safe and healthy, make sure the air in your home is clean and chemical free. Reach out to the team at HealthSafe Inspections Inc. today to schedule your service!

Categorised in: Indoor Air Quality

This post was written by Writer