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I do worry about atmospheric plastic particles, but... I suspect that reported air quality metrics like PM10/PM2.5 measure this already. I'm doubtful that 10k

by kurthr 7y ago

I do worry about atmospheric plastic particles, but... I suspect that reported air quality metrics like PM10/PM2.5 measure this already. I'm doubtful that 10k plastic particles are landing inside your house simply because external air turnover isn't that fast (only a few per day). Either it's coming from inside your house or the density outside is anomalously high. The total volume would be <10m3 and peak PM10 is typically less than 5ug/m³ (often less than 1 where I live). A 10um diameter particle is a few nanograms so 10,000 would mean all of the particles in the air are plastic. We know that dust, smoke, and other sources are significant as well.

ryanmercer 7y ago
> I'm doubtful that 10k plastic particles are landing inside your house simply because external air turnover isn't that fast (only a few per day). In your house they are likely much higher as they're coming from your shoes, your synthetic fiber clothes, your carpet, that 25 year old plastic dog your gran gave you. The carpet fiber dust at my job is insane, I wipe down my plane model every day, and 24 hours later you can see little red/blue/green/tan carpet fibers already accumulating from the foot traffic in the office, if I let it go a week it (and skin/hair etc) will cake on my finger if I run it down.
- kurthr 7y ago
  Wool carpets on hardwood floors. I see plenty of dust outside (construction?) but very little in the house. If I don't wipe the table for a week, I can't tell other than animal foot prints. I leave windows and doors open hours every day. At work the office seems about class 100k, but I guess the aircon system if filtering well enough. I don't doubt it's possible to create such an environment, but it's not "natural" or environmental other than in the sense of what you choose (as much as circumstances let you) to live in.

by kurthr 7y ago

ryanmercer 7y ago

> I'm doubtful that 10k plastic particles are landing inside your house simply because external air turnover isn't that fast (only a few per day). In your house they are likely much higher as they're coming from your shoes, your synthetic fiber clothes, your carpet, that 25 year old plastic dog your gran gave you. The carpet fiber dust at my job is insane, I wipe down my plane model every day, and 24 hours later you can see little red/blue/green/tan carpet fibers already accumulating from the foot traffic in the office, if I let it go a week it (and skin/hair etc) will cake on my finger if I run it down.

kurthr 7y ago
Wool carpets on hardwood floors. I see plenty of dust outside (construction?) but very little in the house. If I don't wipe the table for a week, I can't tell other than animal foot prints. I leave windows and doors open hours every day. At work the office seems about class 100k, but I guess the aircon system if filtering well enough. I don't doubt it's possible to create such an environment, but it's not "natural" or environmental other than in the sense of what you choose (as much as circumstances let you) to live in.