Dust/Soil Ingestion Educational Tool

About this study

This dust educational tool is associated with this project that investigates soil/dust ingestion for young children in homes across three different regions: North Carolina, Florida and Arizona.

This study focuses on young children between the ages of 6 months and 6 years and seeks to investigate their soil/dust ingestion rates.

The tips below can be used to protect against dust hazards for all homes and age groups

What is dust?

What is the difference between dust and soil?

The US EPA states in their Exposure Factor's Handbook and Child's Specific Exposure Handbook: Dust is found in the indoor environment while soil is found in the outdoor environment, including outdoor attached spaces (e.g., patio).

Dust is a mix of hair, clothing fibers, dust mites and soil particles. Dust can also contain chemicals that migrate out of everyday products in our homes-flooring, furniture, personal care products, cleaning products, and myriad others.

Sources of Indoor Dust

Insects and Insect droppings
Food debris
Dead skin
Pet danger
Building material
Lead, Arsenic and DDT
Plants materials
Soil from outside

Building material

Other sources of indoor dust

Dust Mites

Pet Dander

Smoking

Sources through outdoors human activities

Rock crushing
Shoveling
Sweeping
Drilling
Demolition
Burning
Driving
Plowing of agricultural fields

Demolition

Hidden places for dust collection in your home

Electronics
Blinds
Ceiling fans and lighting fixtures
Tops of doors, windows, and cabinets
Upholstery
Baseboards and carpeting

Allergic reaction to dust

Symptoms of an allergic reaction to dust

Runny nose
Cough
Watery eyes
Itchy throat
Nasal congestion
Sneezing

How to get rid of dust in your home

Frequent filter changes
Use mats/leave shoes at doors
Regular cleaning of indoor ceiling/standing fans
Adopt wet wiping method when cleaning floors
Declutter
Keep air circulating
Pest inspection and control
Groom your pets
Keep humidity levels low
Clean and dust your electronics
Use High efficiency particulate air (HEPA) vacuum with built in filtration that capture particles of 0.3 microns with 99.97% efficiency and limit air leakage (National Center for Healthy Housing, 2021)