homehome Home chatchat Notifications


Dead human skin gathered in dust is good for the air

Ironically, while most tidy people in the world are busy dusting off furniture, electronics, ceilings, cats, whatnot, researchers have shown in a  recent study that the same dust is actually very good for the air, reducing ozone levels by 2 to 15 percent. All because of dead human skin. Ozone is crucial for preventing potentially […]

Tibi Puiu
May 17, 2011 @ 11:45 am

share Share

Ironically, while most tidy people in the world are busy dusting off furniture, electronics, ceilings, cats, whatnot, researchers have shown in a  recent study that the same dust is actually very good for the air, reducing ozone levels by 2 to 15 percent. All because of dead human skin.

Ozone is crucial for preventing potentially damaging electromagnetic radiation from reaching the Earth’s surface, but in the lower atmosphere, say ground level, it acts as an air pollutant with harmful effects on the respiratory systems of animals and will burn sensitive plants.

Squalene, an oil found on skin cells, has six double carbon bonds in its molecules which interact with, and break apart, ozone. Chemist Charles Weschler and his team analyzed dust from non-floor surfaces in Demark, showing that squalene was more effective than cholesterol, which is another oil found on skin, at removing ozone.

Squalene human skin dust isn’t the only anti-ozone agent found in a household either – other chemicals that contain double bonds between atoms, like oleic acid found in certain cooking oils, and some surfaces, like those made of rubber or neoprene, also consume ozone, according to Weschler. Squalene found in living human skin also shows a contribution to reducing ozone levels, although in a smaller percentage.

“Basically, human beings are large ozone sinks. We have only found this out within the last five years!” Weschler wrote in an email to LiveScience. “In an occupied room humans consume more ozone than dust [does]. However, dust continues to react with ozone even when the room is not occupied.”

The average human sheds around 500 million skin cells per day, which means that your squalene levels will get replenished everyday, and although dust can be considered in this case beneficial, it will build up and at some point dusting is required. Dust can irritate allergies or even pass along microbes, so one should be always careful.

“The skin flakes shed by one person may trigger an allergic response in another person or may serve to pass along microbes that could cause an adverse effect,” Weschler wrote. “While it is a good thing that dust consumes ozone, we should continue to clean — to remove dust. Human occupants will continue to ‘recharge’ squalene in dust and on the surfaces that they contact.”

Story courtesy of Popsci.

share Share

This mRNA HIV Vaccine Produces the Virus-Fighting Antibodies That Have Eluded Researchers for 40 Years

New mRNA-based HIV vaccines spark hope with potent immune responses in first human trial

Aging Might Travel Through Your Blood and This Protein Is Behind It

Researchers identify a molecular “messenger” that spreads cellular aging between organs.

Older Adults Keep Their Brains up to Two Years 'Younger' Thanks to This Cognitive Health Program

Structured programs showed greater cognitive gains, but even modest lifestyle changes helped.

This New Coating Repels Oil Like Teflon Without the Nasty PFAs

An ultra-thin coating mimics Teflon’s performance—minus most of its toxicity.

People in Thailand were chewing psychoactive nuts 4,000 years ago. It's in their teeth

The teeth Chico, they never lie.

We Might Be Ingesting Thousands of Lung-Penetrating Microplastics Daily in Our Homes and Cars — 100x More Than Previously Estimated

Microscopic plastic particles are everywhere and there's more than we thought.

This Scientist Stepped Thousands of Times on Deadly Snakes So You Don't Have To. What He Found Could Save Lives

This scientist is built different.

Scientists Say Junk Food Might Be as Addictive as Drugs

This is especially hurtful for kids.

Tooth nerves aren't just for pain. They also protect your teeth

We should be more thankful for what's in our mouths.

Temporary Tattoo Turns Red If Your Drink Has Been Spiked

This skin-worn patch can detect GHB in drinks in under one second