Black Shoe Wear
This is from an in-home office in Redmond, Washington,
hundreds of miles from the nearest wildfire. This is a
shoe wear particle.
Transmitted Crossed Polarized Light and Reflected Darkfield Illumination
Definition/Function:
Shoe wear particles are common in homes, offices, and classrooms. The "rubber" soles
come in a variety of colors but are typically heavily filled with
mineral fillers. The tapered cylinder shape is typical.
Significance in the Environment:
Indoor environments not exposed to wildfire often contain black particles in excess of
1% of the total particulate matter. The amount of
charred wood alone can exceed 1% in some of these homes, especially if they or their
close neighbors use a fireplace or woodstove.
Characteristic Features:
Associated Particles:
References:
