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| Testing Vacuum Cleaners |
Filling The Air With Small Dust Particles
Small dust particles can sometimes be seen floating in the air in a
sunny room. Even so, not all dust particles are visible to the eye.
Using a particle counter, we enter into the world of microns (1 µm
or micrometers) where we can detect even the tiniest particles that
are less than one thousand of a millimeter small.
Japan Offspring Fund measured the amount of particles in normal office
air. The particle counter can be adjusted to measure the amount of dust
of different sizes, from 0.3 micron to 5 micron in size. The result
can vary depending on the time of day.
| Size |
Amount/Liter |
| 0.3 micron - |
2,000,000 particles |
| 0.5 micron - |
13,000 particles |
| 0.7 micron - |
3,600 particles |
| 1 micron - |
2,000 particles |
| 3 micron - |
380 particles |
| 5 micron - |
56 particles |
One of the problems of air pollution is the dust particles which are
allergens, i e give rise to or cause allergic reactions. Pollen particles
usually measure about 10.0 microns, while their size may vary from one
type of plant to another.
Experts agree that using vacuum cleaners can stir up allergens from
the floor and cause suffering. Because of this problem, Dr. Terasawa
instructs people with allergies and other respiratory problems to wipe
floors with a wet rug rather than using a vacuum cleaner.
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Japan
Offspring Fund(JOF) is a consumer group and environmental NGO established
in 1984. We have researched issues involving the safety of daily
life, including chemical residues, endocrine disruptors, and genetically
engineered food. 
