Dust specific weight. Dust weight table by type

When cleaning a home, we are always surprised by where so much dust comes from. Tightly closed windows and doors do not protect furniture, floors and curtains from a dusty coating. Vacuuming and wet cleaning give only a temporary effect, and after a day the same layer of dust is back in its previous place.

Residents of steppe regions, where strong winds constantly blow, and residents of industrial cities suffer especially from dust at home. A huge amount of dust is constantly suspended in the air and inhaled by people. It settles in a dense layer, and the only way to fight it is regular cleaning.

Where does dust come from?

Dust is made up of mineral and organic microparticles with a diameter not exceeding 0.1 mm. Everything larger than this size belongs to the category of sand.

All dust present on our planet can be conditionally divided into two categories:

• Dust of natural origin. This includes soil particles carried by wind, ash and cinder residues, particles of salts evaporated from seas and oceans, fine particles from desert regions of the Earth and organic residues: epithelium, pollen and decomposition products of organic matter. This category makes up about 70% of all dust.

• The remaining 30% is dust formed as a result of human activity: coal industry, chemical, flour-milling and other production. Metallurgical dust is the most dangerous for people and the environment.

According to studies, approximately a quarter of household dust cannot be identified, while most of it, 34-35%, consists of mineral particles. Plant pollen in dust accounts for 7-8%, particles of ash, soot and other combustion products are about 3%, epithelial particles are 15-20%, and the remaining percentages are particles of textiles and other materials.

What is the weight of dust?

On average, about 8 thousand dust particles settle on each cm2 of surfaces per week. They can have different shapes and composition, float in the air and gradually settle. Their composition directly affects the weight of dust and, accordingly, its settling rate. The higher the specific weight of dust, the faster it settles on surfaces.

Specific weight is usually measured in kilograms per cubic meter. For dust, this value says little. Therefore it is convenient to consider the weight, or density, of dust in grams per cubic centimeter. For industrial dust, specific weight values in t/m3 may be needed.

The table gives average weight values for household dust and some types of industrial dust.

Harm from dust

The hygienic assessment of dust harm to the human body is determined by its composition and concentration in the air. Any type of dust poses a potential threat because, settling on the skin and mucous membranes, it reacts and interferes with natural cleaning processes.

Dust causes irritation and allergic reactions. Solid particles of metallurgical dust can act as abrasives, and various chemical inclusions have a toxic effect on body cells, dissolve in natural fluids such as blood and lymph, and spread through organs, causing poisoning and clogging tissues. Household dust contains dust mites and pathogenic microorganisms that negatively affect health.