Indoor Particles 101
Indoor Pollutants Are Particles…
…about 90% of the time
Here is a quick course of particles (pollutants) in the home.
- Particles are commonly measured in microns, a metric unit of measure. There are 25,400 microns in one inch.
- Visible particles constitute as little as 1% of indoor air!
- Particle visibility depends on the eye itself. In other words, light intensity and quality, background and particle type.
- Particles on furniture and those in a shaft of light are approximately 50microns or larger.
- It may be possible to see particles as small as 10 microns under favorable conditions.
- The majority of harmful particles are 3 microns or less in size.
- Particles of 1 micron or less adhere to surfaces by molecular adhesion. Scrubbing is generally the only way to remove them.
- Larger particles tend to settle out of the atmosphere due to weight.
- Smaller, “respirable” particles remain virtually suspended in the air until breathed in.
- Approximately 98-99% of all particles by count are in the size range of 5 microns or less. These particles tend to remain in suspension or settle out so slowly that
only quality air cleaners such as HEPA air cleaners are effective in removing these particles. - The average person breathes in about 16,000 quarts of air per day. Each quart contains some 70,000 visible and invisible particles. That’s over a billion particles
per day that our bodies have to process! - The average home collects about 2 pounds of dust per week!
- A 9′ x 12′ carpet or rug will collect an average of about 10 pounds of dust per
year!
To learn more about indoor pollutants and how to make your home a haven, please sign up for our Free Email Mini-Course Newsletter in the upper right-hand corner of this page or click here to read more.
