Where to Have Dust Analyzed for Harmful Particles

Dust is an unfortunate part of life. Dust particles travel through the air and land on hard surfaces like floors, tabletops, and counters as well as soft surfaces like carpeting, rugs, curtains, and upholstery. We can’t prevent dust from forming but we can increase cleaning and use air purifiers to remove particles from the air. We can also determine whether there are particles in the dust that make us or someone in the home or office sick. Therefore, it’s important to know where to have dust analyzed. 

Dust Dangers

Indoor air quality can be just as harmful as the air found outdoors. Indoor pollutants have adverse effects on us and those who live in the home. It also affects the workplace. Using air filters helps keep indoor air free of harmful particles. It’s also important to test the dust particles, but many homeowners and business owners don’t know where to have dust analyzed. 

If you or someone in your home or work building is experiencing the effects of poor indoor air quality, check for these symptoms of a dust allergy:

1. Worsening allergies or asthma issues
2. Shortness of breath and/or irritation of the eyes, nose, throat, and skin
3. Sneezing, coughing, or sinus congestion

Settled dust indoors may contain particles that trigger allergy and asthma symptoms. As more dust gathers risk increases as well. Determining the makeup of the dust found indoors helps mitigate any potential health concerns. 

Dust is made up of particles from fabric, dead skin cells, pet dander, and dust mite feces. It may also include mold spores and other allergens. Having the dust tested rules out certain factors and narrows down others such as the presence of insect fragments which may point to an infestation problem. Testing also helps determine if pets in the home are the cause of allergies.

Dust is not the only thing that affects IAQ and there are several kits available to test for other particles and pathogens such as bacteria, fungi, radon, smoke, and VOCs (volatile organic chemicals).

Know Where to Have Dust Analyzed

DIY test kits give you the tools you need to determine if the dust in your home or office is making you ill. They come with with easy-to-follow instructions. Screening for dust and dust mites is affordable too and once you know where to have dust analyzed, results come fast. Order your dust or dust mite screening kit then read and follow the directions. 

Test a Dust Sample in 3 Easy Steps

It’s a simple and affordable process to test the dust in your home or work. Order a house dust test kit and follow these three easy steps:

1. Read the Instructions

Before you use the house dust test kit read the instructions carefully as they provide details about the quick and easy sample collection process. Next, choose a location to collect dust. You need at least one gram (about 1 tablespoon) of dust. Carpeting is a good source for dust collection, but other areas work well too as long as there is a sufficient amount to collect one gram. 

2. Collect a Sample

Use the collection strips that come with the dust screening kits and place the sample in the provided case. Complete the chain of custody form, then place everything into the post-paid envelope that comes with the test kit. The kits are then mailed to the Environmental Diagnostics Laboratory (EDLab) which takes care of the question of where to have dust analyzed. 

3. Mail Your Sample

The EDLab is an accredited microscopy laboratory. Environmental scientists are onsite to screen the sample for dust and other allergens. Once testing is complete, a report is sent which details the level of allergens per gram in the sample. The report is sent via email within 10 to 14 business days from the date the lab received the sample. The report also shows what normal levels should be so you can see where you rank.

Limit Dust Particles

If the dust in your home or work causes you discomfort, take action. Vacuums with a HEPA filter remove particles that trigger allergy and asthma symptoms. Get one that is certified as asthma and allergy friendly by the Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America.

Another way to get cleaner indoor air is with air-cleaning devices. Models are available for both residential and commercial use. These devices mount to walls or stands and work around the clock to deliver clean air to indoor spaces. A model like the Dyson HP04 Pure Hot + Cool Link Tower, for example, detects ultra-fine particles and captures allergens as tiny as 0.3 microns while producing over 77 gallons per second of airflow.

Bipolar ionization is another effective tool in eliminating dust and other allergens. These commercial-grade air purifiers use needlepoint bipolar ionizers that release millions of atoms in the ductwork to cluster around and destroy allergens as well as bacteria, mold, and viruses. They use carbon filtration to eliminate odors and an antimicrobial-treated HEPA filter traps 99.97 percent of any airborne contaminants not destroyed by the ions. These devices are used by hospitals, universities and schools, gyms, and spas. 

The best defense against dust in the home or at work is a combined approach that uses testing and air cleaning technologies. Once you know where to have dust analyzed, use the results to get cleaner air. 

Of course, dust isn’t the only thing to worry about. The concentrations of indoor pollutants are between two and five times as high as outdoors in some cases. Indoor air testing is a way to find what the levels of these pollutants are. Tests exist to screen for smoke, formaldehyde, radon, fiberglass, mold, and more.

Analyze Dust Particles with Test Kit

Dust and other allergens in the home or office take their toll on building occupants. Don’t treat the symptoms alone, find the source of the problem with a DIY dust test kit available from indoorairtest.com. Call 727-572-4550 today.