Abstract: The invention provides dust collecting apparatus 500 for use in collecting airborne dust adjacent to a moving surface, such as a paper web 511. The apparatus comprises an elongate duct 503 extending in a direction transverse to the direction of movement of the moving surface, the duct having along its length at least one opening 504 permitting entry of air into the duct, and air extracting means in fluid communication with the duct. The apparatus is positionable adjacent to the web so that the apparatus and the moving surface define a “mouth” 514 into which is received at least a proportion of a layer of dust laden air 515 adjacent to and moving with the moving surface. In the preferred embodiment, the opening is shaped and positioned so that air enters the duct in a direction approximately tangential to a wall 507 of the duct and so that air in the duct moves both rotationally about the length of the duct and longitudinally along the duct. That is, a vortex motion is induced in the air entering the duct.