We’ve talked about the dangers of household dust in past posts.
It not only makes allergies and asthma worse, but it can contain traces of environmental toxins that are bad for your health.
Now there’s a new study out I wanted to share with you that makes it even more plain that we need to manage the dust in our homes!
Study Finds 10 Toxic Chemicals in 90 Percent of Household Dust Samples
Researchers gathered information from 26 previously published studies that analyzed consumer product chemicals and indoor or household dust.
These studies examined dust for potentially toxic chemicals like phthalates, flame-retardants, perfluoroalkyl substances (PFASs, like Teflon), synthetic fragrances, and more. In total, results of these studies revealed 45 chemicals in dust that came from household products like furniture, vinyl flooring, cleaning products, and perfumes.
Many of these chemicals have been linked to health problems like hormone disruption, cancer, and fertility issues. “We also found that many chemicals in dust,” the researchers wrote, “share hazard traits such as reproductive and endocrine toxicity.”
Ten of those chemicals were found in 90 percent of the household dust samples. That means that most of us are being exposed to these chemicals right now in our household dust.
What Chemicals Were Most Prevalent?
The lab tests revealed that phthalates were the most prevalent chemicals found in dust, which isn’t particularly surprising. Phthalates are used to make plastic softer and more flexible, and are found in cosmetics, toys, vinyl flooring and blinds, and many other common products.
Other chemicals found in dust included the following:
- Phenols: These are used as preservatives in personal care products, and in the plastic materials of reusable water bottles and cleaning products. They include bisphenol-A (BPA) and methyl paraben (MeP), which have been linked with hormone disruption.
- Fragrances: These are made up of a cocktail of chemicals and are found in a number of personal care products, cleaning products, perfumes, candles, and air fresheners. They can cause skin, eye, and lung irritation, and increase risk of allergic reactions.
- Fluorinated chemicals: Also called PFCs or PFASs, these are used as stain- and water-repellants in cookware, carpets, clothes, and upholstery. They are also used to make food wrappings like pizza boxes and popcorn bags. They’ve been linked with cancer and other health problems.
- Flame-retardants: These are used in furniture, baby products, electronics, and building insulation. They have also been linked with cancer.
“The number and levels of toxic and untested chemicals that are likely in every one of our living rooms was shocking to me,” said study co-author Veena Singla. “Harmful chemicals used in everyday products and building materials result in widespread contamination in our homes-these dangerous chemicals should be replaced with safer alternatives.”
Find a list of all 10 chemicals found and their links to health hazards at the National Resources Defense Council (NRDC).
Are We Ingesting These Chemicals?
How much of this stuff is getting inside us?
Researchers aren’t sure, but they did take a guess at it. They were most concerned with young children, since their exposure to household dust is typically higher than that of adults. They tend to play on the floor more often, and put their hands in their mouths more frequently.
Researchers determined that the fire-retardants had the highest estimated intake, because they’re not only in furniture, but in some baby items and electronics as well. The chemical itself is also more easily inhaled than others.
Remember-we can not only ingest these chemicals, but breathe them in!
Researchers added that though the dust samples may have contained only small amounts of these toxins, the health risk is amplified because we’re exposed to so many of them at the same time. We also tend to be exposed over a period of many years.
Simple Steps to Reduce Your Exposure to Toxic Household Dust
To increase the safety of your home, try these steps:
- Frequently wash your hands and your children’s hands.
- Dust with a damp cloth (not a dry one) so you actually pick up the dust.
- Clean floors with a wet mop.
- Vacuum regularly using a machine with a HEPA filter.
- Avoid using candles or air fresheners. Open a window or use essential oils instead.
- Avoid personal care and cleaning products that contain potentially dangerous chemicals.
- Ask about flame-retardants when purchasing furniture.
- Keep closets clear for easy dusting.
- Throw your blankets, pillows, drapes, and other similar items in the dryer on the air-fluff setting for 20 minutes with a damp towel. The airflow will help remove dust particles.
- Invest in a quality air purifier for the rooms in which you spend the most time.
- Use more houseplants to help clean the air. (Read more on our post about toxin-reducing houseplants.)
- Consider replacing dust-collecting carpeting with wood floors in some rooms.
- Ban shoes inside the house. Leave them at the door.
- Rotate sheets and pillowcases weekly.
Do you take steps to control your household dust?
Photo courtesy khunaspix via freedigitalphotos.net.SourcesSusanna D. Mitro, et al., “Consumer Product Chemicals in Indoor Dust: A Quantitative Meta-analysis of U.S. Studies,” Environ. Sci. Technol., 2016; 50(19):10661-10672, http://pubs.acs.org/doi/abs/10.1021/acs.est.6b02023.“Potentially Harmful Chemicals Common in Household Dust,” GW Today, September 14, 2016, https://gwtoday.gwu.edu/potentially-harmful-chemicals-common-household-dust.
