Stockholm University
A study from Stockholm University have now established what was
previously suspected, that the high levels of brominated flame retardants
measured in cats are from the dust in our homes. The study has been published
in the journal Environmental Science & Technology.
The study shows that cats are exposed to chemicals found in
electronics and furniture, chemicals that become dust and can adversely affect
health.
It is the first time that this connection has been verified. In
a previous study, the researchers demonstrated that brominated flame retardants
were found in higher concentrations in the blood of cats that had developed
Feline hyperthyroidism (hyperthyroidism in cats) compared to healthy cats.
Now, new measurements of healthy cats establish their dust
exposure. Paired samples were taken from the same household, i.e. they took
both dust samples and blood samples at the same time.
Exposure
to chemicals
"By taking paired samples, we have greater insight into the
environment that the cats live in. Moreover the cats in the study spent the
majority of their time indoors and therefore air and dust in the home is
expected to contribute more than the outdoor environment," says Jana Weiss
at the Department of Environmental Science and Analytical Chemistry, Stockholm
University.
The results are very interesting because small children,
notorious for putting everything in their mouths, have exposures to these
chemicals similar to cats.
"The brominated flame retardants that have been measured in
cats are known endocrine disruptors. It's particularly serious when small
children ingest these substances because exposure during the development can
have consequences later in life, such as thyroid disease," says Jana
Weiss.
About
brominated flame retardants
Brominated flame retardants are added to textiles, furniture and
electronic equipment to prevent the material from igniting.
Many of the brominated flame retardants have been found to be
health hazards, and some are suspected endocrine disruptors.
A number of them have been prohibited for these reasons in
products like electronic goods.
However, they are extremely persistent and can leach from the
products for many years after they have been produced, ultimately becoming part
of dust.
