Coloured scanning electron micrograph (SEM) of House dust. Components such as plant fibres (light blue/purple), cat hair (red), dog hair (dark red), pollen (yellow), miscellaneous fibres (blue, green and dark purple), insect faecal matter and scale (animal danderbrown) cause allergic reactions in sensitive humans. Dust in homes contains small amounts of plant pollen, human and animal hairs, textile fibres, paper fibres, insect parts, minerals from outdoor soil, human skin cell, sand many other materials which may be found in the local environment. Magnification: x72 when shortest axis printed at 25 millimetres. |