House dust can reveal who you live with and what your pet is, study shows
by Ian Sample, science editor from on (#JEYN)
Dust from 1100 homes was surveyed to learn more about microbes that might exacerbate breathing problems and allergies ... or even have health benefits
If the steady build-up of grime, stains and crumbs on the floor is not enough to spur you to a home cleaning spree, then research on the bugs that lurk in house dust might just do the job.
Tests on dust gathered from the tops of door frames in more than 1100 US homes revealed rich communities of fungi and bacteria that varied with the sexes of the home's occupants, and whether cats or dogs lived with them.
