The Herschel Virgo Cluster Survey V. Star-forming dwarf galaxies - dust in metal-poor environments

We present the dust properties of a small sample of Virgo cluster dwarf galaxies drawn from the science demonstration phase data set of the Herschel Virgo Cluster Survey. These galaxies have low metallicities (7.8 < 12 + log(O/H) < 8.3) and star-formation rates <= 10(-1) M-circle dot yr(-1). We measure the spectral energy distribution (SED) from 100 to 500 mu m and derive dust temperatures and dust masses. The SEDs are fitted by a cool component of temperature T <= 20 K, implying dust masses around 10(5) M-circle dot and dust-to-gas ratios D within the range 10(-3)-10(-2). The completion of the full survey will yield a larger set of galaxies, which will provide more stringent constraints on the dust content of star-forming dwarf galaxies.