Children carry traces of toxins from the floors and furniture of the house

Children living in homes with vinyl floor coverings or flame retardant chemicals in the couch have significantly higher concentrations of potentially volatile semi-volatile organic compounds in the blood or urine than children in homes where these products are not present, according to an expert. new study led by Duke University.

The researchers presented their findings on Sunday, February 17, at the annual meeting of the American Association for the Advancement of Science, in Washington, DC.

They found that children living in homes where the living room couch contained flame retardant PBDEs (PBDEs) had a six-fold higher concentration of PBDEs in their blood serum.

Laboratory tests have shown that exposure to PBDEs is badociated with neurodevelopmental delays, obesity, endocrine and thyroid disorders, cancers and other diseases.

Children in homes with vinyl floors in all regions had concentrations of benzyl and butyl phthalate metabolites in the urine 15 times higher than those of children without vinyl flooring.

Benzyl butyl phthalate has been badociated with respiratory disorders, skin irritations, multiple myeols, and reproductive disorders.

"SVOCs are widely used in electronics, furniture and building materials and can be detected in almost any indoor environment," said Heather Stapleton, environmental chemist at Duke & # 39. Nicholas School of the Environment, who led the research. "Human exposure to these substances is widespread, especially in young children who spend most of their time indoors and who are more exposed to chemicals found in household dust."

"However, little research has been done on the relative contribution of specific products and materials to the overall exposure of children to SVOCs," she noted.

To address this gap, Stapleton and colleagues at Duke's (Centers for Disease Control & Prevention) and Boston University launched in 2014 a three-year study of home exposures at SVOCs in 203 children in Boston. 190 families.

"Our main focus was to investigate the links between specific products and children's exposure, and to determine the course of exposure – by breathing, skin contact, or inadvertent inhalation of dust." "said Stapleton.

To this end, the team badyzed indoor air samples, dust and moss collected in the furniture of each children's home, as well as a hand-drawn sample of urine and urine. blood of each child.

"We quantified 44 biomarkers for exposure to phthalates, organophosphate esters, brominated flame retardants, parabens, phenols, antibacterials, and perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl (PFAS) substances," Stapleton said.

Stapleton presented his team's findings to AAAS as part of the scientific session titled "Homes at the Center of Chemical Exposure: Uniting Chemists, Engineers and Health Scientists" .

She conducted the study with Kate Hoffman, Assistant Professor of Research in Environmental Science and Policy; research badistant Emina Hodzic; and Ph.D. Jessica Levbadeur, Stephanie Hammel and Allison Phillips, all Duke students.

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