The chemicals hiding in household dust can cause cancer and lead to other health conditions, according to a new study.
“We think of our homes as a safe haven but the studies show they’re being polluted,” study co-author Veena Singla, a staff scientist at the Natural Response Defense Council, told Global News.
The study, published in the Environmental Science and Technology magazine by researchers from George Washington University, also says that 45 harmful chemicals were found in household dust in the United States.
Ten of those chemicals were present in 90 per cent of homes.
“It doesn’t look pretty. There’s a widespread presence of toxic chemicals” in our homes, Singla warned.
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The study also said children are the most vulnerable to the toxins, because they are closer to the ground and spend more time on the ground.
Singla said the most common chemicals were a variety of flame-retardant chemicals which are known to cause cancer and affect our nervous systems. They can be found in many pieces of furniture.
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Other common substances found in the dust are part of the phthalate family of chemicals, which are known to cause hormone disruption, fertility issues, and respiration declines in children.
Phthalates are found in many different household items such as fragrances or personal care items like lotion, and they are added to many common objects when “plasticizing” them, Singla explained.
The study analyzed 26 papers and data-sets to find a “bigger picture” of what chemicals were in household dust. And while the data comes from 14 U.S. states, Singla says it’s a concern facing Canadians (and Europeans) as well, because the products the chemicals are coming from are also available in Canada.
What can you do?
“Results may be shocking, but the good news in that there are things you can do to make a difference,” Singla said.
That includes:
- Washing your hands often, especially before eating.
- Vacuuming the floors to get rid of excess dust.
- Dusting surfaces with a damp cloth.
- Make sure to buy products that are known to be phthalate free, or don’t contain flame-retardant chemicals.
But she said it shouldn’t be on a homeowner to “clean up after the chemical industry.”
She said there should be policy changes put in place to ban many of the materials which release the chemicals into the dust.
For now, she just warns people to be aware of what is in the furniture, food, and beauty supplies they buy.
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