THE DANGER OF DUST
Dust is everywhere – understanding what it is, is essential to dealing with the perils it presents.
Dust and microdust originate from all kinds of sources. It floats in the air, partly falls down on surfaces and is inhaled by humans and animals.
Dust contains things like soot particles, dust mites, dander, pet allergens, mould, bacteria, spores and viruses. It’s all there.
Pathogenic microorganisms that are spread via dust are a fact of life we must deal with. To do that, we need to understand the nature of dust, its dangers and what to do in order to limit its negative effects.
Effective and professional dust removal is an important aspect that should not be underestimated.
WHAT IS DUST?
There are two categories of dust, ordinary dust and micro dust. Ordinary dust is a collection of fine, dry particles that are typically less than 500 micrometres (μm) in diameter.
These particles originate from various sources including objects, living creatures, and industrial and natural processes. The composition of dust differs and can include a wide range of materials including mineral grains, pollen, skin cells, textile fibres and soot. Moreover, ordinary dust often harbours living organisms such as bacteria, viruses and fungi.
Analysing dust reveals that there is a lot of life in a little bit of dust. When particles are, on average, smaller than 10 micrometres in diameter we refer to them as microdust. Due to its significantly smaller size and lower mass than regular dust, it often remains suspended in the air for longer periods.
Like ordinary dust, microdust originates from all kinds of sources, some of which can be extremely harmful to living creatures. Dust and microdust are everywhere, inside and outside, except for rooms where dust exposure is highly controlled (clean rooms).
HOW DANGEROUS IS DUST?
It depends.
Is it “ordinary” dust or microdust? What exactly is the composition of the dust and in what concentration?
How sensitive is a person to the substances and how long has that person been exposed to dust?
The negative effects of microdust are becoming alarming and clear, however, and emerging as a significant and silent killer.
According to the WHO, 99% of people are exposed to air pollution levels that exceed the recommendations set by the World Health Organisation (WHO) in their latest guidelines.
Every breath we take is keeping us alive but the air we breathe can also kill us over time. Respiratory issues, allergies, cardiovascular effects and weakened immune systems are just some of the consequences of persistent and increasing air pollution.
WHO estimates that, globally, air pollution is responsible for approximately seven million premature deaths annually. These deaths result from ischemic heart disease, stroke, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and lung cancer, but also from acute respiratory infections, such as pneumonia, which mainly affect children in low and middle-income countries.
Is dust and microdust a serious issue?
Yes, absolutely.
WHAT ELSE?
Beyond health implications, dust accumulation poses a range of challenges.
Electrical appliances and ventilation systems are susceptible to damage and cause performance degradation when inundated with dust. Additionally, layers of dust on floors and furnishings are not attractive. While not as destructive as other consequences of dust, maintaining cleanliness is still important for aesthetic reasons and to prevent potential damage to floors and furniture.
Did you know?
- There is a cloud of dust around a moving person of approximately two metres.
- A working person, sitting on a chair, produces one million dust particles per minute.
- A walking person produces between 2.5 to 5 million dust particles per minute.
- One gram of dust can contain thousands of dust mites.
- People with pets at home carry allergens on their clothes, which are released everywhere.
CLEANING HAS THE MOST IMPACT
Air movements are an important cause of dust becoming airborne. And what goes up must come down. You can reduce dust in the air through filtration, ventilation and good environmental cleaning.
The first methods are important but do not have the most impact(1). Environmental cleaning, however, is the most effective method, provided you clean properly.
Dust can be removed in many ways, both mechanically and manually. Whatever you choose to do, methods and materials must retain the dust.
REMOVE DUST FROM THE SURFACE, HOW?
As explained, dust on surfaces can be removed in two ways: mechanically or manually.
MECHANICAL DUST REMOVING
Mechanical dust removal is done with a vacuum cleaner. That could be a nonautonomous (human-operated) machine or an autonomous vacuum cleaner (robot).
To minimise the amount of dust that becomes airborne at the exhaust opening of the machine, it is important to use vacuum cleaners with a good, and multiple filter system (HEPA).
Another mechanical way of dust removal, are those that look like a mobility scooter with a big dust mop frame at the front – the sort you are likely to see in airports.
To remove dust from objects with hard-to-reach spots such as keyboards, a high-pressure air blower can be used. Bear in mind this method transfers dirt from one place to another, so outdoor execution is recommended.
MANUAL DUST REMOVING
To remove dust manually, wiping is the most common method. Wiping can be done with a durable wipe or mop, or a disposable variant. It is important to use wipes and mops that pick up the dust and retain it.
There are several options:
Water impregnation
These are mostly used in combination with a durable mop or wipe.
The mop or wipe should be slightly moistened. If too wet, the dust can turn into mud, causing stripes on the surface after drying. Wet conditions also stimulate the growth of micro-organisms.
Oil impregnation
Oil-impregnated floor wipes are disposable. They tend to have a relatively low price and effective dust pick-up, but excessive oil can leave residue on the floor, requiring regular rotation of the pack of wipes to prevent oil migration to the bottom ones.
Leaving the frame with the wipe on the floor during a break can cause oil stains and the wipes are piano-packed, rather than being available on a roll.
Glue impregnation
Glue impregnation is an alternative to oil impregnation. The impregnation grade and type of glue must be correct to prevent a glue residue on the surface.
These wipes are slightly more expensive than oil-impregnated ones, but they have no risk of leaving glue residue on the floor. They do not require regular rotation of the pack, pose no risk of floor stains, if the frame with the wipe is left on the floor during a break, and are available on a roll.
Glue-impregnated, disposable wipes are made to remove dust from floors but you can also use these wipes to remove dust from furniture. For instance, antique wooden furniture that is sensitive to water or oil.
STATIC ELECTRICITY
Static electricity works like a “magnet”, attracting dust and retaining it on the wipe or mop. Therefore this type of wipe or mop is highly effective on hard or elastic surfaces with a 3D structure, such as wood imitation PVC floorings.
This method can be relatively expensive, but disposable floor wipes are available on a roll, while durable dust mops can be washed and reused.
DURABLE OR DISPOSABLE
Removing dust with durables or disposables are options that come with their own specific advantages and disadvantages.
If durables are used to remove dust from floors, it is important to remove the collected dry dirt from the mop before laundering. If not properly pre-cleaned, there is a high chance that mops emerging from the laundering process are not sufficiently clean. There is also a potential risk of damage to the pump of the washing machine over time. Use a vacuum cleaner with a HEPA filter to remove the dry dirt from the mop before laundering.
Sometimes cleaning operators brush the dirt from the mop, not realising that a lot of dust becomes airborne which is unhealthy and inefficient.
Generally speaking, disposables are more hygienic, comfortable and efficient and therefore recommended for use in healthcare environments.
WHAT ABOUT THE DUST WIPE FRAME?
There are different types of frames on the market to which you can attach a disposable dust wipe. In healthcare environments, it is important to use utensils that are easy to clean, have a minimum number of dirt traps and are made of materials with a closed structure to prevent the formation of “microorganism hotels”. Therefore, a frame with a flexible removable sole made of synthetic rubber is preferred.
HEALTHY CLEANING
In 2004, the Dutch Cleaning Research Association (VSR) published a guide about the importance of healthy, professional cleaning (VSR vaknieuws “Gezond Schoonmaken”). It provides a lot of insights into the importance of cleaning related to a healthy indoor environment and healthy cleaning practices. While all details can be found in the VSR publication, there are five rules of thumb for healthy cleaning.
- Clean the right things (to be most effective).
- Clean the things right (professional).
- Clean as dry as possible (to prevent the growth of microorganisms).
- Don’t clean at high speed (to prevent dust from becoming airborne).
- Clean regularly (expiration date of cleanliness is on average 1-2 days).
Dust presents serious health risks as well as aesthetic concerns. In healthcare environments containing vulnerable individuals, dust with everything in it can be a particular and significant threat.
Through consistent and professional cleaning practices, we can reduce these dangers and create healthier environments.
Doing so not only safeguards our well-being but also improves productivity and keeps the environments in which we work, visit and live as beautiful as they were created.
Environmental dust control may seem straightforward, but it requires the expertise of a cleaning professional to manage it in a healthy and effective way.
Visit your local RapidClean member to learn more
Words Ing. Paul Harleman, FHCS Professional
