"Global Earth Day published studies that found pets and babies are especially at risk for microplastic exposure from household dust. Both household members stay low to the ground-closer to dust, microplastics, and particulates that are invisible to the naked eye on carpets and floors-and put everything in their mouths, making it easier for them to ingest microplastic dust that could be on those objects."
"My fellow WIRED reviewer Lisa Wood Shapiro discovered her carpet was harboring PM 2.5 while testing air quality monitors. Never heard of PM 2.5? It's particulate matter small enough to enter the lungs and bloodstream, contributing to health problems like heart attacks, hypertension, and respiratory issues. Shapiro found that simply walking across her carpet caused spikes in PM 2.5 readings on her air quality monitors, as the matter stored in the carpet was released back into the air-and potentially into her lungs -by her footfalls."
"Aidan Charron, an associate director at EarthDay.org, recommends vacuuming daily, along with avoiding polyester rugs and carpets in your home. Polyester is a plastic-based textile, so having that fabric in your living spaces could introduce more microplastics into your home and dust. You might want to consider a wool rug, like one of our favorites, below, or even a washable rug like this one from Revival, recommended by WIRED's air quality expert, Lisa Wood Shapiro."
Pets and babies face elevated microplastic exposure from household dust because they stay low to the ground and frequently mouth objects, increasing ingestion of microplastic-laden dust. Carpets can harbor PM2.5 particulate matter, which can re-enter the air during footfalls and reach lungs and bloodstream, raising risks for heart, hypertension, and respiratory problems. Daily or near-daily vacuuming reduces dust, microplastics, and PM2.5 reservoir in carpets. Avoiding polyester rugs limits introducing plastic-based microfibers into indoor dust. HEPA-filter-equipped vacuums prevent captured particles from escaping back into the air. Wool or washable rugs offer lower microplastic risk.
Read at WIRED
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