Household Microbes

A study has found that dust in our homes contains an average of 9,000 different species of microbes.

09:54 28 August 2015

A study conducted by researchers from the University of Colorado at Boulder revealed that dusts in our homes contains an average of 9,000 different species of microbes and that the types of bacteria and fungi varied on where the home is located, who lived there, and whether pets were present.

 

Dr Noah Fierer, associate professor of ecology and evolutionary biology, who carried out the study, said: "This is really basic natural history we are investigating here.

"We have known for a long time that microbes live in our homes. What we are doing is now is old-fashioned science, to see how they vary across space."

 

The research, which was published in the Proceedings of the Royal Society B, was conducted by analysing dust samples that were sent by volunteers from 1,200 homes across the United States. Researchers found that the average household had more than 2,000 different types of fungi including Aspergillus, Penicillium, Alternaria andFusarium.

 

"Most of the fungi we are seeing in the home appears to be coming from outside the home," said Dr Fierer.

"They enter the home on our clothing, or through open windows or through doors.

"Therefore the best predictor of what types of fungi are in your home is where your home is located."