What could your cat’s illness tell you?
A very interesting study appeared in a recent issue of Environmental Science and Technology looking at the cause of overactive thyroid disease in cats. For years, no one has been able to figure out what was causing this disease, but experts do know that 35 years ago, this was never a condition vets ever saw!
The link this study found was from exposure to chemical flame retardants called polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs), which were used in foam, plastics, furniture, electronics, fabrics and carpet padding. Manufacturers started using PBDE’s in their products in the late 1970s and agreed to stop using it in 2004 when a study showed a concern of toxicity in animals, but many products are still out in our houses.
How does this relate to your kids, though? Well, researchers have concluded that the biggest culprit came from two sources; cat food and dust. I hope your kid isn’t eating cat food, but if you have a toddler, they are more exposed to house dust than we, as adults are! In fact, there have been earlier studies from Australia, Norway and in the US indicating that children under 4 years old can have far larger levels of these compounds than adults. And one study found a significant relationship between indoor dust exposure and PBDE levels in first-time mothers in the Boston area. Another found PBDE levels in Americans are three to 10 times higher than in Europeans. Tom Webster, a professor of environmental health at Boston University, said animal research has found PBDEs to damage the nervous system and disrupt hormones, but studies haven’t been done to look at people’s health, yet.
Authors of the study, although alarmed, say don’t throw out your furniture and rip out your carpets just yet. However, they each said they are washing blankets and checking labels on types of flame retardant used on furniture, now.
So, what can you take away from this rather disturbing report?
I know that as I was reading these reports, I instantly thought about my own home. I have no toddlers, but I do have a cat. My guess is much of what is in my house fits into the categories mentioned above. Granted, I would love to replace the carpet and buy new furniture, although I don’t plan to do that immediately, what I CAN do is perhaps work harder at keeping the dust cleaned up.
The only other suggestion is to keep an eye open for more news on this topic!
To read the abstract, click here.
The link this study found was from exposure to chemical flame retardants called polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs), which were used in foam, plastics, furniture, electronics, fabrics and carpet padding. Manufacturers started using PBDE’s in their products in the late 1970s and agreed to stop using it in 2004 when a study showed a concern of toxicity in animals, but many products are still out in our houses.
How does this relate to your kids, though? Well, researchers have concluded that the biggest culprit came from two sources; cat food and dust. I hope your kid isn’t eating cat food, but if you have a toddler, they are more exposed to house dust than we, as adults are! In fact, there have been earlier studies from Australia, Norway and in the US indicating that children under 4 years old can have far larger levels of these compounds than adults. And one study found a significant relationship between indoor dust exposure and PBDE levels in first-time mothers in the Boston area. Another found PBDE levels in Americans are three to 10 times higher than in Europeans. Tom Webster, a professor of environmental health at Boston University, said animal research has found PBDEs to damage the nervous system and disrupt hormones, but studies haven’t been done to look at people’s health, yet.
Authors of the study, although alarmed, say don’t throw out your furniture and rip out your carpets just yet. However, they each said they are washing blankets and checking labels on types of flame retardant used on furniture, now.
So, what can you take away from this rather disturbing report?
I know that as I was reading these reports, I instantly thought about my own home. I have no toddlers, but I do have a cat. My guess is much of what is in my house fits into the categories mentioned above. Granted, I would love to replace the carpet and buy new furniture, although I don’t plan to do that immediately, what I CAN do is perhaps work harder at keeping the dust cleaned up.
The only other suggestion is to keep an eye open for more news on this topic!
To read the abstract, click here.
posted by Margie Geiser, MBA, RD, NSCA-CPT at
6:45 AM
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