Is Dust Mostly Dead Skin?
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Published 2020-08-18
Thanks to Google for sponsoring this video! Learn more about Search here: www.google.com/search/howsearchworks/
Special thanks to J.M.E.H van Bronswijk, author of 'House Dust Biology'. We exchanged emails to make sure I got my facts straight for this video. Below is an excerpt from her email to me, responding to my claims that start with a dash:
- Around half of airborne dust particles under 100um are skin scales
This is true for climates, regions and seasons where people live mostly indoors.
The 1 to 2 g of skin scales shed each 24 hours will end up in places where people are present (and rub their skin or have textile moving over the skin).
You can also look at it from a different angle: What else has the same size and could contribute? That will usually be pollen from outdoor sources, also depending on season, region and climate, as well as the ventilation regime of the building.
However, taken as the median value over a whole year, I consider your statement correct for regions with a temperate climate.
- 53% of dust particles vacuumed from a mattress were found to be skin scales
It depends a little on the type of mattress. For polyether mattresses the amount may even be larger.
For mattresses made of natural material it could be less since the mattress-material will also give off small particles.
- larger particles consist mostly of fibers, eg. cotton, paper, wool, synthetics
That's true .. including bread crumbs ..... 🙂
- skin scales seem to form a larger fraction of dust where we spend more time, e.g. in or near bed.
..... and on the couch used to view television or be active in gaming.
It has to do with the constant production of skin scales over the 24 hours.
- skin scales form a smaller fraction of dust if there are significant other sources, e.g. carpeting, dirt from outside etc.
Yes, everyting you walk on with your shoes or that recieves dirt from the outside with other means, will have a lessr percentage of human skin scales.
However, do not forget the skin scales of pets that will also be an active allergen for many people, and a food source for house dust mites.
Information on dust particle size ©ISO. This material is adapted from ISO 7708:1995, with permission of the American National Standards Institute (ANSI) on behalf of the International Organization for Standardization. All rights reserved.
Research and Writing by AJ Fillo and Derek Muller
Editing, Audio Mix & Master, and Computer animations by Jonny Hyman
Dust and character animation by Ivy Tello
Filming by Raquel Nuno
Thumbnail by Fictionalhead youtube.com/fictionalhead
Intro Music composed by Jonny Hyman
Additional Music from Epidemic Sound: Colored Spirals, Observation
All Comments (21)
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"This video was sponsored by Google" is literally the most elite thing a youtuber can say.
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"This video is sponsored by google" That is the weirdest thing I've ever heard.
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"If dust is mostly dead skin, then why do abandoned buildings get so dusty overtime" sounds like a amazingly terrifying story
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"Is dust mostly dead skin?" People allergic to dust: Maybe I am allergic to myself.
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One of the best ads for something that doesn't need an ad.
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I think the craziest thing about this video, is the fact Google are actually paying people to advertise Google... who is their target audience? The 10 people who use Bing?
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"that's as many stars as there are in the Milky Way Galaxy", which relates one number I have no way of really understanding to another number I have no way of really understanding.
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I never realised how meaningful the term "ashes to ahses, dust to dust" was until now. Being carbon based lifeforms and returning to dust once again after all we know including ourselves was created from stardust.
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What gives people the feeling of power: - money - status - being sponsored by Google
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Never heard of this "Google" sponsor, seems interesting, I'll check them out...
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Why does google need a sponsor? They own youtube
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Ashes to ashes, Dust to dust. Unless you're bionic. And then you rust... : )
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Google ad: "so Google isn't very reliable so I called up some dust experts and they gave me a book instead"
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"Google sponsored this video so I'll use google to show how I get a full answer" >Gets full answer by reading book only found by calling personal friends
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Congratulations on that awesome sponsor, Derek! It shows that you have a really special role here on YouTube and your content is really appreciated. :)
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I was at a primary school and had to climb up on a ladder to clean out the dust filters in the projector mounted high on the ceiling of the school hall. Predictably, there was a thick layer of dust, probably building up over three or four years since whenever the last time the projector needed servicing. The dust was a pale shade of pink to match the bright red school jumpers and cardigans that the school used for its uniform.
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I’m glad this channel is picking sponsors from small, lesser known companies. It helps them get out and succeed
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"sponsored by google" *shows the thing google cannot do
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Wow. This really is one of my favorites of your videos. Thanks for all the time you spend on uncovering this for us!
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Hi Derek. Just a quick message to let you know that I show this video to my students in my Industrial Toxicology class. Keep up the good work ! Cheers !
