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Household dust may be one of the most significant sources of polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs) for humans, according to an exploratory study released by the National Institute of Standards & Technology and EPA [Environ. Sci. Technol., published online Dec. 29, http://dx.doi.org/10.1021/es0486824].
Levels of PBDEs, used widely as flame retardants, have increased in human blood and breast milk over the past 25 years. Yet scientists haven’t been able to pin down the greatest sources of human exposure.
Earlier work found PBDEs in groceries, which suggested dietary ingestion. However, because PBDEs are used in many household products, including computers, TVs, and couches, Heather M. Stapleton and her colleagues at NIST and EPA suspected that PBDEs might also be in household dust.
The scientists tested dust from 17 homes in the southern U.S., and found high levels of PBDEs, ranging from 700 to 30,100 ng of PBDE per g of dust. Outdoor dirt samples usually average around 100 ng per g. Lint from clothes dryers also contained high PBDE levels. The PBDE levels were not dependent on the year the house was built, what type of flooring it contained, or how many TVs or computers it held.
The researchers caution that small children may be particularly susceptible to household dust inhalation because of their propensity to mouth hands and toys.
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