The author discovers the surprising source of air pollution in their cabin: household rugs. The article explores the phenomenon of resuspension, where dust and particulate matter are released into the air when carpets and upholstery are disturbed.
A couple weeks into my air quality cabin experiment, I noticed odd spikes in PM 2.5 for seemingly no reason. PM 2.5 are those invisible particulates that can enter the deepest parts of the lungs and then the bloodstream. They contribute to negative health outcomes like heart attacks, hypertension, and respiratory issues, to name a few. I hadn’t been cooking; I hadn’t done anything. The PM 2.5 numbers, illuminated on various air quality monitors, climbed from 4 to 24 to 75 or higher.
My air purifiers’ internal sensors, some using the same technology as my air quality monitors—a tiny chamber where a beam of light scatters picking up the particulates, even the invisible PM 2.5—automatically cranked up their fans. And all I did was walk across the room. It was the rug! The first time I heard about the dangers of household rugs and carpets was from air pollution researcher Shelly Miller at the University of Colorado in Boulder, whom I interviewed for my first story on air quality; namely, how to get good air in my 100-year-old Brooklyn apartment. Miller was the one to introduce me to the term resuspension. Resuspension is exactly what it sounds like: Dust and particulate matter in carpets take flight when kicked up by footsteps. The same thing happens with upholstery. Plop down on a sofa and you might see a puff of dust. I have an air quality monitor next to my bed, and I’ve seen the uptick in PM 2.5 when I move my weighted blanket over my duvet. We dust, vacuum, and wash fabrics not just for aesthetics; it’s also for our health, and more pointedly, our hearts. It's In the Cloud I had forgotten about resuspension and let my no-shoes-inside-rule slide at the cabin. By the time I made the connection, I had taken the two carpets outside to hit them old-style with a broom. Giant plumes of dust flew into the ai
AIR QUALITY HEALTH RISKS RUGS RESUSPENSION ENVIRONMENTAL POLLUTION
United States Latest News, United States Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
Our Little Secret Ending Explained: What Happens After Avery & Logan's Secret Is ExposedOur Little Secret Erica Avery Logan
Read more »
Mom-of-2 Shares Hilarious Consequence of Forgetting To Upgrade Cruise CabinA family of four ended up in close quarters for a week when it slipped their mind to upgrade their room.
Read more »
Toyota’s uses noise and vibration engineers in pursuit of cabin silence that rivals luxury carsKristin Shaw is a freelance writer specializing in anything with wheels, and calls on her technology background to explain complex concepts. Currently living in her sixth state (New Jersey, Indiana, Ohio, Kentucky, Georgia, and now Texas), she does most of her work in coffee shops around Austin.
Read more »
Southwest flight to Oakland returns to DIA after cabin pressure problemsSouthwest Airlines Flight 4277 turned around after reaching 12,000 feet, when staff aboard the airplane learned of the pressurization problem.
Read more »
Southwest to end cabin service earlier due to potential in-flight turbulenceRooted in fact-based, transparent reporting, Newsy is an award-winning opinion-free network owned by the E.W. Scripps Company that is relentlessly focused on “the why” of every story and seeks to enable a more intimate and immersive understanding of the issues that matter.
Read more »
Yellowjackets' Bonus Episode Explained: Everything Revealed & Will It Ever Release?The girls standing around in the cabin looking uncertain in Yellowjackets season 2 episode 3.
Read more »