Benefits and limitations of house dust examinations indoors

House dust, the dust that sediments on the floor in buildings, is a significant marker for certain indoor pollutants. Among other things, it accumulates semi volatile organic compounds such as biocides, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) and plasticizers. In addition, mites, pollen and other microbial contaminants are found in house dust. The complexity of house dust in terms of its composition is also a reason why there is no uniform measurement technology and why it is so difficult to assess the result. This begins with the question of sieving and separating coarse-grained components, with the determination of the age of the dust before the analysis and ends with the evaluation of the ingredients after the analysis. This article provides an up-to-date review of the general significance of house dust examinations. The authors show that the quantitative determination of chemical substances in house dust can be very useful to detect certain substances in the indoor environment and to assess their concentration according to statistical criteria. However, it is equally clearly stated that a health assessment based on house dust and its ingredients is not possible with regard to indoor related exposure.