Kenneth Pye Associates Ltd.
 Scientific Research, Consultancy and Investigations

              
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Investigation of potential skin irritants in household dust
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In a study investigating the cause of skin irritation in a residential property, a number of dust samples were collected around the property and analysed by scanning electron microscopy and x-ray chemical microanalysis.  Asbestos, dust mites, fungal spores and other biological allergens were not found and were discounted as causes of the irritation.  However, the dust samples contained glass fibres which appeared to originate from one part of the house and had been dispersed to other rooms. Chemical analysis also indicated that the glass fibres were associated with significant concentrations of heavy metals. An appropriate remediation strategy was proposed.

              
Scanning electron micrograph of the dust containing                Energy-dispersive x-ray microanalysis 
glass fibres with a needle form which caused skin                    spectrum showing the elemental composition
irritation.                                                                                of the fibres.

Kenneth Pye Associates Ltd. - Environmental Consultants
Page last modified: July 11, 2007