If you're more prone to a quick tidy of your house rather than a deep clean, you might want to arm yourself with a feather duster… pronto. New research from Duke University in the US, found that exposure to chemicals in house dust could disrupt metabolic health and increase a person's body fat – especially in children.
House dust contains endocrine-disrupting chemicals (EDCs) that can interfere with hormone production. In the research, EDCs caused fat cells to mature and acquire more triglycerides, a type of fat the body stores for energy (too much can cause weight gain).
Dust aside, EDCs are found in everyday objects, such as cleaning products and food packaging. Previous research has suggested that exposure to EDCs may contribute to weight gain, explains Medical News Today. It's for this reason, the scientists set out to explore how house dust could influence weight.
For the research, the team collected dust samples and analysed the levels of EDCs and found a total of 44 contaminants. Using mice, they then used the dust to look at how the chemicals influenced precursor fat cells. Seven out of the 44 dust samples collected caused cells to accumulate fat and nine samples spurred the growth of precursor fat cells.
Researcher Dr Heather Stapleton, said: "This suggests that the mixture of these chemicals in house dust is promoting the accumulation of triglycerides and fat cells."
As little as 3 micrograms of dust was enough to trigger the fat-producing effects, explained the scientists. "We were most surprised by how low the concentrations were that we saw having an effect," said Dr Christopher Kassotis, lead researcher.
The three EDCs that had the greatest effect on fat production, include the pesticide pyraclostrobin, flame retardant TBPDP and the plasticiser DBP.
The team admit further study is needed, but highlight that their findings could a cause for concern:
"The adipogenic activity in house dust occurred at concentrations below EPA (United States Environmental Protection Agency) estimated child exposure levels, and raises concerns for human health impacts, particularly in children."
The findings were published in the journal Environmental Science and Technology.