Once you know what's in dust, it's not surprising that many people are allergic to it. Because it is generally made up of many different things, one person's dust can be another person's allergen. Here are 4 of the most common pollutants found in dust. These will definitely help you understand why dust makes you sneeze.
Dust Mites---These little critters are invisible to the human eye, but any one with sensitivity to them doesn't have to see them to know they are there. Found in every home, regardless of cleanliness, they make their homes in bed linens, pillows, stuffed animals, and pet beds.
These locations make great home for them because they feed on dander (flakes of dead skin). And since all warm-blooded creatures shed dander, they populate places that have the most dander.
As you probably don't want to imagine, they defecate where ever they live. And it is the protein in the huge number of feces they produce that cause problems for those with allergies and asthma.
Seasonal Pollens----The fact that there's always something blooming may not be such good news for those who are allergic. Depending on the climate in your neck of the woods, there is some sort of pollen in the air during most of the year.
Tree pollen is the earliest and in some places can begin as early as January. Various trees continue to send out pollen through the spring. Grass pollen cranks up in the summer, and weed pollen finishes the year in the fall usually until the first hard frost. So it's easy to understand why household dust contains pollen. And depending on how often you dust, it may contain different kinds from several seasons.
Animal Dander----For those of us who believe a house isn't a home until it has a pet, it will come as no surprise that a lot of your dust has dander. Regardless of whether you love a bird, dog, cat, or ferret, bunny or pot-belly pig, they all shed dead skin flakes. And as with the mites, it is the protein component that causes allergic reactions.
The incredible part is that many homes have dander even though they don't have a pet. Dander is sticky stuff and can adhere to walls and other surfaces long after a previous owner's pet is gone.
It can also attach when coats, back packs, and packages are hung in common areas. Dander from a pet owner's coat can easily become attached to your things. And if you work or go to school with a pet owner daily, you can regularly transport dander from their house to yours.
Mold Spores----A natural part of nature, these spores are found both indoors and out. They proliferate with moisture. So areas that have water are likely to have the highest in count. These include the kitchen, bathroom, laundry room and basement of most homes. Houseplants that have soil that is constantly moist can also contribute a higher count. Removing airborne spores before they find moisture is an excellent way to reduce the count in your dust.
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