"Dust." Dust exists everywhere. Any air born particles that accumulate over time are labelled as dust. They can come from dead skin cells to minerals. And while the most immediate result of being exposed to this residue is sneezing, can certain types of dust have a mayor impact in our metabolism?

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A recent experiment conducted by Duke University in North Carolina proved that household dust can impact the body's metabolism and create more fat. Most household dust contains some amount of EDCs (endocrine-disrupting chemicals), as the substance can be found in plastics, couches and carpets for several preservation processes. ECDs had already been associated with cognitive problems and intellectual disabilities, but now they have been proven to cause cells to multiply and create fat in the body. Among the contaminants found in the samples of dust were the flame-retardant TBDP, pyraclostrobin (pesticide) and the plasticizer DBP, which were all proven to increase weight gain. This contaminated dust can be inhaled, ingested or even absorbed through the skin, so it is almost unstoppable to prevent its side effects unless the house is kept spotless. For more details on how they conducted the experiments that lead to this discovery, please read Mr. Henry Bodkin's article on the subject, linked below.

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In Unit 1, the textbook lists several substances that were once fairly widespread, but after finding their disruptive potential they have since been banned or regulated. Examples of these include the DDT (dichlorodiphenyltrichloroethane), a harmful pesticide, which is also considered an EDC like the ones listed above. However, unlike the chemicals that produce the harmful house dust, it has since been banned. This shows why the harmfulness of chemicals should always be tested before they are put in use, because although gaining weight is not exactly lethal, it is still a side effect that was unheard of a few years ago. And just like DDT, this was not discovered until the damage had already been done.     

 

It has always dumbfounded me how large corporations can be so neglectful with their products. From Monsanto's genetically modified animals and vegetables to asbestos insulation, this can be seen all the time. How hard can it be to test a product for safety before sending it in loads to the market when all the procedures are already there? Or is corporate pride so great that they will rather have their costumer's money at the cost of their health? There should be more regulations as to which products make it out of the door to preserve the health of the people and, in some cases, the health of everything exposed to the product too. And no one should get a high pass for their ability to bribe the law. However, it does lift up my spirits to see so many countries taking action to regulate or band chemicals once their destructive potential has been declared.

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Can you name chemical products in your household that can cause damage to your health simply by being exposed to them? Which chemical  properties make them so potentially dangerous and what effect do they have on humans?

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