A study conducted on houses from 14 different states in the US show that over 90% of the samples collected had harmful chemicals, including ones that can cause cancer and infertility.
Ami Zota from Milken Institute School of Public Health at the George Washington University, in Washington, D.C. said that harmful chemicals go into the air and then seeps into house dust which then settles on furniture, appliances, and floors. These chemicals typically go unnoticed and everyone living in the house is in danger of getting sick, as they can inhale the dust or their skin gets exposed to the dust particles.
The Washington Toxics Coalition conducted tests on household dust and found that they found flame retardant chemicals in all of the samples that they tested. These flame retardants, called polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs), can alter the normal functioning of thyroid hormones which can lead to fertility problems.
Other dangerous chemicals that are common in household dust are cigarette smoke, PCBs (polychlorinated biphenyls), PAHs (polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons), cancer causing heavy metals like lead and mercury, asbestos, mold pores, and a lot more. Experts advise not to use things inside the house that can collect dust, such as carpets. They also recommend that it’s best to clean the house everyday.
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