Dust, forever chemicals and reducing your risk
Dust might seem like a minor household nuisance, but in reality, it’s a major—and growing—health concern, especially here in Utah.
As Great Salt Lake continues to shrink, more of its dry, exposed lakebed turns into airborne dust. That dust carries heavy metals, arsenic, and other toxins, and is increasingly contributing to the poor air quality in the Salt Lake Valley.
But the problem doesn’t end at our doorsteps. Indoor dust is now recognized as a significant pathway for chemical exposure. A recent study found 258 chemicals in household dust samples, including PFAS, or “forever chemicals,” which can disrupt hormones and have been linked to serious health conditions including cancer, reproductive harm, and developmental disorders in children. Alarmingly, exposure to PFAS through household dust may make up as much as 25% of an adult’s total PFAS burden.
UPHE recently sent a letter to over 300 local and state officials urging them to stop using pesticides and other products that contain PFAS. We encourage you to add your voice—contact your local officials and urge them to demand PFAS-free practices in public land management, pest control, and maintenance work.
More information on PFAS in pesticides and other products:
To reduce your exposure to harmful chemicals in dust, use a vacuum with a HEPA filter and clean regularly, damp dust with microfiber cloths instead of dry dusting or feather dusters, avoid air fresheners, conventional cleaning sprays, and disinfectants that can release toxic chemicals, and look for EWG-verified cleaning products, which avoid harmful additives.
Reducing indoor dust won’t solve the Great Salt Lake crisis—but it can protect your household from its growing impact. Let’s clean up our act—inside and out.