INFOTOX | Dust Samplers

Indoor Dust Sampling

A large proportion of indoor dust (house dust) is representative of outdoor dust.

Therefore, indoor dust may be hazardous to human health, especially at locations in the proximity of sources of toxic substances that could become airborne. INFOTOX uses demonstration model vacuum cleaners equipped with filter cassettes for the collection of indoor dust on filters. The dust can be analysed to identify and quantify substances of potential concern in indoor dust.

INFOTOX used this technique to collect indoor dust samples in residences and at a school in an area where hexavalent chromium was suspected to cause risks to human health. The technique was also applied to collect dust from carpets in an office building where residents complained of symptoms of respiratory, skin and eye irritation effects.

Suspecting microbial and fungal contamination, the collected dust was analysed for mirobiological contaminants and medium to heavy contamination with yeasts and molds were confirmed.

Considering that the dust was likely to become airborne through human traffic, drafts from windows, etc, the reported symptoms of coughing, wheezing, nasal and throat conditions could be associated with yeast and molds in the carpets.