Consumers’ Guide to Highly Fluorinated Chemicals 
 
 Why are highly fluorinated chemicals harmful? Highly fluorinated chemicals contain carbon-fluorine (C-F) bonds, which are some of the strongest bonds in nature. That makes them both incredibly resistant to breakdown and very useful. For instance, they can make products grease or stain-resistant, nonstick, or waterproof. However, this comes at a cost. The highly fluorinated chemicals that have been well-studied have been associated with: Watch our new video 
 
 
 
 To learn more, watch our short webinar testicular and kidney cancer 
 
 liver malfunction 
 
 hormonal changes 
 
 thyroid disruption high cholesterol 
 
 obesity 
 
 ulcerative colitis 
 
 lower birth weight and size Other highly fluorinated chemicals are suspected of similarly causing health problems, but have not been well tested. Because they are resistant to breakdown, these chemicals can persist in our bodies for years. In the environment, they can last for millions of years. This means that the highly fluorinated chemicals released during our lifetimes will build up in the environment, and many future generations will be exposed to them, at even higher levels than we are today. Scientists from all over the world signed the Madrid Statement to share their concerns about highly fluorinated chemicals and are asking for a limit to the production and use of these chemicals. Find out more here On May 1, 2015, the Madrid Statement was published in Environmental Health Perspectives, a high-impact scientific journal. Click here to read the article, here to read an accompanying editorial by distinguished scientists Linda Birnbaum and Phillipe Grandjean, here to read the reply from the chemical industry, and here for our response. 
 
 How are we exposed? 
 
 Highly fluorinated chemicals are used in consumer products such as cookware, clothing, outdoor apparel, carpeting, and food packaging to provide nonstick, oil- and water resistant properties. They are also used in some kinds of cosmetics. 
 
 We are exposed to them by direct contact with these products, but also through the air we breathe, the water we drink, and the food we eat. 
 
 They have been detected at high levels in humans and wildlife all over the globe. 
 
 What can you do? Ask yourself, “Do I really need products that are stain-resistant, nonstick, or waterproof?” Knowing the consequences, you might choose to give up some conveniences or product performance. Steps you can take: Avoid products that are oil repellant or stain resistant. 
 
 Only purchase waterproof gear when you really need it. 
 
 Avoid cosmetics with PTFE or any word containing “perfluor” or “polyfluor” on their ingredients list. 
 
 Replace your Teflon nonstick cookware with cast iron, glass, or ceramic. 
 
 Avoid microwave popcorn and greasy foods wrapped in paper. 
 
 Tell retailers and manufacturers you want products without fluorinated chemicals. 
 
 Support companies committed to phasing out highly fluorinated chemicals, such as the apparel brands that have joined Greenpeace’s Detox campaign, and the fast food chains that removed them from food packaging as a result of EWG’s action. All products from these apparel brands will be free of highly fluorinated chemicals after those dates. You can drive change for healthy products! 
 
 Resources 
 
 In the Media ||||| The dust in our homes and the air we breathe harbor a complex stew of chemicals. Some, like oxygen, sustain life. Others are pollution stemming from things like car exhaust or from tiny scraps of household products. A pair of new studies adds a level of much-needed detail about exactly how widespread such toxic exposures can be. 
 
 A new analysis, published Wednesday in Environmental Science & Technology, reaffirmed that consumer product chemicals including phthalates, phenols and flame retardants are ubiquitous components of household dust. These substances are present at such high levels that researchers say it is likely we are inhaling and accidentally eating small amounts of these chemicals every day, although we don't yet know whether this level of exposure is enough to do harm. 
 
 Such exposures occur after the chemicals flake off of products including building materials, electrical cords or perfume, says senior author Ami Zota, a professor of environmental and occupational health at The George Washington University. To better understand the scale of such exposures she and her colleagues collected the findings of 26 peer-reviewed studies and one unpublished data set on indoor dust samples from 14 states. The samples came from urban, suburban and rural settings, and included houses as well as other locations like schools and workplaces. The 10 most common chemicals in the study were found in over 90 percent of samples, which suggests they come from items present in most people's households and communities. 
 
 The most abundant chemical in the analysis was di(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate (DEHP), a phthalate that is used in flexible plastics as well as in cosmetics and personal care products. In mice and rats, ingesting high doses of DEHP interferes with the development of the male reproductive system and is linked to liver cancer. When the investigators ranked the chemicals according to how much preschool-aged children were likely to ingest, the flame retardant tris(2-chloroethyl) phosphate (TCEP) came out on top. TCEP has been linked to cancer and brain damage in mice, but like many of these household chemicals we don't know whether it might be dangerous to humans. 
 
 An important limitation of the study is that it only looked at the types and amounts of chemicals present in dust—not the health of people who spent time in places where the dust was collected. For many of the chemicals, we don't yet know what amount should be considered hazardous for long-term exposure, Zota says. And we don't know whether some of the chemicals might be more harmful in combination than they are individually. 
 
 Tracey Woodruff, who was not involved with the new analysis, calls the work a “great contribution” to the study of chemicals in household dust. She's the director of the Program on Reproductive Health and the Environment at the University of California, San Francisco, and she was previously a senior scientist and policy analyst at the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. “The dust is out there. We know the chemicals are in the dust,” she says. “Now we have a better picture of what that looks like and also what we’re going to be ingesting, which is really important for thinking about risks.” 
 
 In the Air 
 
 A second study raises new questions about air exposures we might encounter outside the home. Work published in Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences on September 6 suggests magnetite nanoparticles, typically found in the air, may travel farther than previously believed throughout the human body and ultimately lodge in human brain tissue. Such particles from air pollution have long been linked to respiratory disease, Woodruff says, but the link to brain health is “newly being appreciated.” 
 
 The researchers examined 37 samples of brain tissue from people who had lived in Manchester, England, and in Mexico City. They used a sensitive magnet to confirm that magnetic particles were present in the brains and then looked for the particles under a transmission electron microscope. Although our bodies produce a small amount of magnetite—a mineral made of iron and oxygen—specific characteristics of the magnetite particles researchers found in the brain samples suggest these substances did not come from the body. Typically, such particles appear crystal-shaped under an electron microscopic. Yet Barbara Maher, who studies magnetic minerals that occur in the environment at Lancaster University, and her team found that most of the samples from the brain were actually smooth and round. 
 
 That shape, along with other clues like particle size and the presence of other metals, suggests they were produced at high temperatures—likely in the engines of vehicles. “In essence they are molten droplets,” Maher says. ”If they cool quickly enough, they keep that spherical shape.” 
 
 The particles are small enough that they can enter the brain through the olfactory nerve via the nose. Nobody has yet proved that magnetite contributes to Alzheimer's or any other disease—magnetite has been detected previously in the brains of some Alzheimer’s patients—but the mineral is known to create free radicals that can damage cells. As a result, Maher believes it is “highly improbable” that the particles' presence in the brain is harmless. 
 
 “The levels of magnetite they found in the brain are much higher than have been found in other studies,” says Jon Dobson, who studies magnetic nanoparticles in biomedicine at the University of Florida and was not involved in the study. There is a chance the high levels were from accidental contamination in the lab, in spite of the researchers' careful steps to avoid it, he says. But if the high levels are simply due to the patients being exposed to high levels of pollution, future studies involving a control group from less polluted areas could confirm the findings. 
 
 Removing nanoparticles and consumer product chemicals from our environment is a big job that would require major policy changes, for example banning the most toxic chemical from products. In the meantime, though, both Zota and Woodruff note that washing your hands before you eat can significantly reduce your accidental intake of the chemicals found in dust. They also recommend vacuuming with a high-efficiency particulate air (HEPA) filter, which is designed to remove very fine particles. 
 
 Maher points out that walking farther away from busy roads may also help to reduce how much exhaust you breathe in. Even walking on the downhill side of the road, she says, rather than the uphill side where drivers burn more fuel as they accelerate, may make a difference. “Any distance that you can put between you and the source of the particles is a good thing.” ||||| TIME Health For more, visit TIME Health 
 
 Ten chemicals suspected or known to harm human health are present in more than 90% of household dust samples, according to a new study. 
 
 The research, published in the journal Environmental Science and Technology, adds to a growing body of evidence showing the dangers posed by exposure to a slew of chemicals people in developed countries encounter on a day-to-day basis. The chemicals come from a variety of household goods that includes toys, cosmetics, furniture, cookware and cleaning products. 
 
 A class of chemicals known as phthalates — a group that includes DEP, DEHP, DNBP and DIBP — are present in the highest concentrations, according to the research. That class of chemicals is also thought to be among the most harmful. Exposure to phthalates may interrupt the endocrine system, leading to a decrease in IQ and respiratory problems, among other problems, health researchers say. 
 
 Read More: You Asked: Can My Couch Give Me Cancer? 
 
 Highly fluorinated chemicals (HFCs), another class of chemicals common in household dust, has been linked to kidney and testicular cancer. The compound is found in everything from cell phones to pizza boxes, according to the study. 
 
 Researchers behind the study, which evaluated datasets from more than 25 prior studies, called for manufacturers to replace the chemicals in their products with safe alternatives, but, voluntary participation aside, the path to force companies to replace chemicals remains difficult. For decades, chemicals in this country have been eligible for use without tests to confirm their safety. 
 
 An overhaul to the Toxic Substances Control Act passed earlier this year will require the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to sign off on new chemicals before they enter the open market, but still thousands of chemicals on the market today remain untested. The Environmental Working Group, an environmental nonprofit, estimates that 1,000 of those chemicals warrant further scrutiny, but the EPA does not have the staff — or the time — to invest in such an effort. Instead, the EPA has selected a much smaller list of priority chemicals to evaluate first. 
 
 The research comes as scientists increasingly understand that exposure even to very low levels of these toxic substances can damage human health. And, while exposure on any given day may be small, each exposure adds up. ||||| A new analysis of more than two dozen studies found toxic chemicals in 90 percent of household dust samples taken from 14 states. 
 
 Household dust does more than collect in corners and on bookshelves full of novels you haven’t gotten around to reading. A new study shows it can expose people to a wide range of potentially toxic chemicals. 
 
 In what the authors are calling the first study of its kind – a meta-analysis of more than two dozen previous studies on chemicals in dust – they report that 90 percent of dust samples taken from houses in 14 states contain harmful chemicals, including one that’s known to cause cancer. 
 
 “Most studies only measure a few chemicals so it makes it hard to understand typical exposures in homes and work places,” said the study’s lead author Ami Zota, an assistant professor of environment and occupational health at Milken Institute School of Public Health at the George Washington University, in Washington, D.C. 
 
 The researchers – who also came from Harvard University, the University of California-San Francisco, Silent Spring Institute and the Natural Resources Defense Council – analyzed data from 26 peer-reviewed papers and one unpublished set of data. The collected data included 45 chemicals from five chemical classes. 
 
 “We wanted to be able to draw more solid conclusions about concentrations of indoor chemicals in the U.S. by pooling data across all of these studies,” Zota explained. 
 
 The chemicals studied come from all sorts of common consumer goods, including furniture, personal hygiene products, flooring, baby products, cleaning supplies, fast food and food packaging. Zota said the chemicals are released into the air and then seep into dust that settles on furniture and floors. People can inhale or ingest small particles of dust or even absorb them through the skin. 
 
 To analyze the previous studies, the scientists parsed the information from three different angles: the level of chemical concentration in dust, how much might be getting into our bodies, and how hazardous the chemicals are. 
 
 “No matter which way we looked at it, there were some chemicals that stood out,” co-author Veena Singla, a staff scientist with the Natural Resources Defense Council, told CBS News. The non-profit group helped to fund the study. 
 
 Ten harmful chemicals were found in 90 percent of the dust samples tested. Phthalates, used in toys and vinyl flooring, among other products, occurred in the highest concentrations. 
 
 They were followed by phenols, often used in cleaning products. Then came flame retardants, fragrances and perflouroalkyl substances, which are used in carpets, textiles, and leather to make them water-, oil- and stain-repellent and to create grease-proof and waterproof coatings for products such as paper plates and food packaging. 
 
 “Phthalates are linked to multiple health hazards, including reproductive,” Signla said. “And some flame retardants are linked to cancer.” 
 
 The authors of the study, published in the journal Environmental Science & Technology, were especially concerned about exposure to children, especially very young children who crawl around on the floor and put their hands in their mouths. 
 
 Chemicals of top concern: 
 
 TCEP - A flame retardant added to couches, baby products, electronics and other products 
 
 DEP, DEHP, BBzP and DnBP – These chemicals, different varieties of phthalates, are found in an array of drugstore items like those listed above, as well as some highly processed foods and fast food. Phthalates are also linked to IQ and respiratory problems in children. 
 
 PFOA and PFOS - These chemicals​ are found in cellphones, pizza boxes and many non-stick, waterproof and stain-resistant products. They’ve been linked to developmental problems​ and issues with the immune, digestive, and endocrine systems. 
 
 These may be worrisome when they accumulate in household dust, the researchers say. 
 
 “Indoor dust is a reservoir for commercial consumer product chemicals and many of these chemicals have known and suspected health effects,” Zota said. 
 
 “This is the first study where we can get a more comprehensive picture of chemical contamination in the home,” Singla added. “Previous studies were like looking at the individual dots in an Impressionist painting. Putting this data altogether, we could see what the bigger picture is and it’s really kind of scary.” 
 
 The authors said small amounts can add up over time and potentially impact health. 
 
 “On the one hand, I wasn’t that surprised, and on the other hand I was surprised to see just how bad it was. I definitely expected to see a number of toxic chemicals when we put the data together, but just the extent of it did surprise me,” Singla said. 
 
 The study doesn’t answer all of the researchers’ questions, however. There are still big gaps in knowledge about many chemicals. 
 
 “We know so little about fragrance chemicals. They’re a prime example of the problem of not having information on what’s in our products because companies claim trade secrets,” Singla said. 
 
 Safer alternatives need to be developed, said Zota. 
 
 “One of our objectives with this – because there are so many consumer product chemicals being used currently in commerce with incomplete health and safety information – was to conduct this analysis with the objective of helping researchers as well as decision-makers to set priorities. Which chemicals to prioritize, in terms of conducting future health assessments. As well as which chemicals to actively develop safer alternatives for,” Zota said. 
 
 Individuals can take a number of steps to improve safety, Singla said. 
 
 In your own home, day-to-day, washing your hands​​ with plain soap and water can cut down on the amount of dust you come into contact with. Vacuuming with a HEPA-filter, wet mopping and dusting with a damp cloth can reduce exposure to dust, as well. 
 
 In the longer term, she said, “There are regulatory and legislative solutions. It does make a difference when people tell their government agencies that this matters to them and they’re concerned.” Singla also noted that the Natural Resources Defense Council has a petition for the FDA to ban phthalates from food, which supporters can sign online. 
 
 “We think our homes are safe havens, but what we found is the surprising reality that our homes are being polluted by the products we have every day. Our choices about what we buy and the policies we support can make a real difference,” Singla said. ||||| Since then, many advocates for human health have demanded overhaul of the patently “toothless” law. The Toxic Substances Control Act has simply proven ineffective at banning elements linked to health problems, and many believe its premarket safety testing standards are also inadequate. (Not to mention that the law requires no safety testing for the roughly 60,000 “grandfathered” substances that were already in use as of its passage in 1972.) 
 
 So it is of great historical significance that after 40 years, in a Congress so divided, the U.S. House of Representative voted overwhelmingly (403 to 12) this week to pass the first ever update to the law. Even Republicans who have repeatedly voted to downsize the EPA, have in this case supported the measure to expand its power. The Senate is expected to pass the bill in coming weeks, after which President Obama is expected to sign. 
 
 The product of years of negotiation, the bill was introduced in 2013 by Senators Frank Lautenberg and David Vitter. It had momentum in the moment, but several days later, Lautenberg died. The bill is named in his honor, the Frank R. Lautenberg Chemical Safety for the 21st Century Act. 
 
 “This is an issue that many people assumed was never going to see progress because it had been so politicized, and industry and environmentalists were so diametrically opposed on how it should be handled,” said Anne Kolton, vice president of communications for the American Chemistry Council (ACC), a trade group that advocates for industrial chemical manufacturers and suppliers. “It's something that, through the art of compromise, we've settled on with the environmental community and the public health community.” 
 
 But those communities seem less than settled. 
 
 Philip Landrigan, dean for global health in the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, has for years been concerned about the cumulative effects of environmental exposures that, he believes, have “subtle but far-reaching impacts on brain development that show up as lifelong impairments in cognition, ability to focus, and ability to exert executive control over impulsive, risk-taking behaviors.” 
 
 Among his chief concerns are brominated flame retardants used in furniture, organophosphate pesticides, phthalates used in some toys, perfluorinated compounds, which he'd like to see restricted to “essential uses” (where there is no substitute). Nanotechnology, too, is a concern. “Investment has exploded, but the amount of information on hazards is minute,” said Landrigan. “It may turn out that there isn’t much hazard, but I wouldn't be so sanguine.” 
 
 He’s unsure if the new bill will give enough power to remove substances once they prove harmful. “This could very well fix the problem, but we won't know until the first legal judgment,” said Scott Faber, vice president of government affairs for the Environmental Working Group, a self-described non-partisan organization "dedicated to protecting human health and the environment." ||||| Phthalates are a group of chemicals used to make plastics more flexible and harder to break. They are often called plasticizers. Some phthalates are used as solvents (dissolving agents) for other materials. They are used in hundreds of products, such as vinyl flooring, adhesives, detergents, lubricating oils, automotive plastics, plastic clothes (raincoats), and personal-care products (soaps, shampoos, hair sprays, and nail polishes). 
 
 Phthalates are used widely in polyvinyl chloride plastics, which are used to make products such as plastic packaging film and sheets, garden hoses, inflatable toys, blood-storage containers, medical tubing, and some children’s toys. 
 
 How People Are Exposed to Phthalates 
 
 People are exposed to phthalates by eating and drinking foods that have been in contact with containers and products containing phthalates. To a lesser extent exposure can occur from breathing in air that contains phthalate vapors or dust contaminated with phthalate particles. Young children may have a greater risk of being exposed to phthalate particles in dust than adults because of their hand-to-mouth behaviors. Once phthalates enter a person’s body, they are converted into breakdown products (metabolites) that pass out quickly in urine. 
 
 How Phthalates Affect People’s Health 
 
 Human health effects from exposure to low levels of phthalates are unknown. Some types of phthalates have affected the reproductive system of laboratory animals. More research is needed to assess the human health effects of exposure to phthalates. 
 
 Levels of Phthalate Metabolites in the U.S. Population 
 
 In the Fourth National Report on Human Exposure to Environmental Chemicals (Fourth Report), CDC scientists measured 13 phthalate metabolites in the urine of 2,636 or more participants aged six years and older who took part in the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) during 2003–2004. For several phthalate metabolites, results from the prior survey periods of 1999–2000 and 2001–2002 are also included in the Fourth Report. By measuring phthalate metabolites in urine, scientists can estimate the amount of phthalates that have entered people’s bodies. 
 
 CDC researchers found measurable levels of many phthalate metabolites in the general population. This finding indicates that phthalate exposure is widespread in the U.S. population. 
 
 Research has found that adult women have higher levels of urinary metabolites than men for those phthalates that are used in soaps, body washes, shampoos, cosmetics, and similar personal care products. 
 
 Finding a detectable amount of phthalate metabolites in urine does not imply that the levels of one or more will cause an adverse health effect. Biomonitoring studies on levels of phthalate metabolites provide physicians and public health officials with reference values so that they can determine whether people have been exposed to higher levels of these chemicals than are found in the general population. Biomonitoring data can also help scientists plan and conduct research on exposure and health effects. 
 
 Additional Resources 
 
 Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry 
 
 Public Health Statement for Di-n-butyl Phthalate 
 
 https://www.atsdr.cdc.gov/phs/phs.asp?id=857&tid=167 
 
 https://www.atsdr.cdc.gov/phs/phs.asp?id=857&tid=167 Public Health Statement for Di(2-ethylhexyl)phthalate (DEHP) 
 
 https://www.atsdr.cdc.gov/phs/phs.asp?id=376&tid=65 
 
 https://www.atsdr.cdc.gov/phs/phs.asp?id=376&tid=65 Public Health Statement for Diethyl Phthalate 
 
 https://www.atsdr.cdc.gov/phs/phs.asp?id=601&tid=112 
 
 https://www.atsdr.cdc.gov/phs/phs.asp?id=601&tid=112 Public Health Statement for Di-n-octylphthalate (DNOP) 
 
 https://www.atsdr.cdc.gov/phs/phs.asp?id=971&tid=204 
 
 https://www.atsdr.cdc.gov/phs/phs.asp?id=971&tid=204 ToxFAQs for Di-n-butyl Phthalate 
 
 https://www.atsdr.cdc.gov/toxfaqs/tf.asp?id=858&tid=167 
 
 https://www.atsdr.cdc.gov/toxfaqs/tf.asp?id=858&tid=167 ToxFAQs for Di(2-ethylhexyl)phthalate (DEHP) 
 
 https://www.atsdr.cdc.gov/toxfaqs/tf.asp?id=377&tid=65 
 
 https://www.atsdr.cdc.gov/toxfaqs/tf.asp?id=377&tid=65 ToxFAQs for Diethyl Phthalate 
 
 https://www.atsdr.cdc.gov/toxfaqs/tf.asp?id=602&tid=112 
 
 https://www.atsdr.cdc.gov/toxfaqs/tf.asp?id=602&tid=112 ToxFAQs for Di-n-octylphthalate (DNOP) 
 
 https://www.atsdr.cdc.gov/toxfaqs/tf.asp?id=972&tid=204 
 
 Environmental Protection Agency 
 
 Consumer Fact Sheet on Di (2- ethyhexyl) Phthalate 
 
 https://www.epa.gov/safewater/pdfs/factsheets/soc/phthalat.pdf 
 
 https://www.epa.gov/safewater/pdfs/factsheets/soc/phthalat.pdf Dibutyl phthalate 
 
 https://www.epa.gov/iris/subst/0038.htm 
 
 https://www.epa.gov/iris/subst/0038.htm Di(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate (DEHP) 
 
 https://www.epa.gov/iris/subst/0014.htm 
 
 Food and Drug Administration 
 
 Phthalates and Cosmetic Products 
 
 https://www.fda.gov/Cosmetics/ProductandIngredientSafety/SelectedCosmeticIngredients/ucm128250.htm 
 
 National Library of Medicine, National Institutes of Health ||||| (CNN) When was the last time you dusted your house? 
 
 Your answer could reveal a lot about your home habits, but the findings of a new study might have everyone upping their game -- and potentially keeping wet wipes and hand sanitizer nearby at all times. 
 
 Researchers at George Washington University say 45 toxic chemicals are found commonly in your house dust, with 10 of them lurking in 90% of homes across the country. 
 
 "We wanted to identify which chemicals were present at the highest exposure in homes," said Dr. Ami Zota , an assistant professor of environmental occupational health who led the study. "Some chemicals were in virtually every dust sample." 
 
 To reveal which potential toxins we're being exposed to in the comfort of our own homes, Zota's team analyzed all studies that have sampled indoor environments in the United States since 2000. They looked for the presence of potentially toxic chemicals and divided them into five classes of chemicals, two of which were found to be more common than the rest: phthalates and flame retardants. 
 
 "Many of the top 10 fall into these two categories," Zota said. 
 
 But when factoring in the wide range of chemicals we're exposed to, small amounts can add up, she stressed. 
 
 Lurking in the dust 
 
 The chemicals found in dust samples came from a range of things typically found inside your home, including vinyl products -- such as flooring -- cosmetics, baby products, furniture and nail polish. 
 
 To understand how these chemicals are entering your home, it helps to understand where they are used. Phthalates make plastic softer and more flexible, so they tend to be found in vinyl (PVC) materials such as flooring, blinds and food packaging. Flame retardants help products meet flammability standards that are built into building codes, insurance requirements and fire regulations. 
 
 The other three classes of chemicals found in dust samples included environmental phenols, usually used as preservatives in personal care products like shampoo; fluorinated chemicals, used as stain- and water-repellent treatments for upholstery, carpets and clothes and in nonstick pans; and fragrances. 
 
 Only one chemical used in fragrances had been the topic of a study, meaning many more chemicals are likely to be present in dust with little insight into them, according to the researchers. "We know very little about the health hazard of these fragrances," said Zota. 
 
 But the researchers note that it is about more than exposure. For example, phthalates were detected in the highest concentrations in the study, but the chemicals found in flame retardants had the "highest estimated intake," meaning they are more likely to enter the body. 
 
 "You can breathe it in and can absorb into your skin," Zota said. "These chemicals are not bound to the products, so they can migrate out." 
 
 A risk to child development 
 
 One of the biggest concerns underlying the presence of these chemicals hiding in house dust is the fact that children are most likely to inhale or ingest them as they crawl around, touching things and inevitably placing their hands in their mouths multiple times a day. 
 
 "Environmental insults during early development can have long-lasting adverse health effects that persist across the lifespan," Zota said. Phthalate exposure in children "can increase risk of respiratory, behavioral and neurodevelopmental problems." 
 
 Phthalates are also known to disrupt hormones inside the body, meaning they could cause reproductive problems. 
 
 "We know from lead that exposures are not acceptable," said Dr. Asa Bradman, associate director for exposure assessment at the Center for Environmental Research and Child's Health at the University of California, Berkeley, who was not involved in the new study. 
 
 "There's a strong argument to reduce exposure to children whose brains are changing and bodies are developing." 
 
 As for the study findings, Bradman noted that the reason phthalates were found to be most common in house dust was probably because most studies have been done on this class of chemicals. 
 
 "By compiling information in this way, there's always the possibility of exposures that haven't been studied yet," Bradman said. 
 
 Preventing exposure 
 
 Some advice to prevent exposure, other than regularly dusting your home, is to veer away from the traditional feather duster and use a powerful vacuum with a HEPA filter to ensure that all dust particles are sucked up. Regular hand-washing -- which has a multitude of benefits -- will also reduce exposure to flame retardants found on the surfaces of furniture. 
 
 The Silent Spring Institute has created an app to help people understand more about their environmental exposures, aptly named Detox Me 
 
 Join the conversation See the latest news and share your comments with CNN Health on Facebook and Twitter. 
 
 But both Zota and Bradman stress that there needs to be more research into the range of chemicals people are exposed to at home and changes at the policy level to reduce the number of chemicals entering people's households, through bans, better regulation and improved underlying chemistry during production. 
 
 "There may be chemicals out there that we don't know about, that we should know about," said Bradman, whose own research looks into exposure risks, particularly among children. His studies have found phthalates to be common in child care practices in the United States. 
 
 "But we can also reformulate materials so that chemicals don't just go into our bodies," he added. "There may be ways to have better adhesion [of flame retardants to furnishings] so they don't get into the environment." 
 
 The issue is also not specific to the United States. 
 
 "These consumer product chemicals are widely used throughout the globe and have been detected in homes in the UK and other European countries," Zota said, adding, "since the European Union has different chemical regulations than the US, the average levels for some of the chemicals may be different than those we found for US homes."
– We're surrounded by toxic chemicals, and even holing up in our meticulously kept homes may not save us, Time reports. Ten chemicals that may be hazardous to our health were found in over 90% of indoor dust samples taken for a study published in the Environmental Science & Technology journal. And these chemicals are found in everyday items, including ones you may suspect (e.g., cleaning products, cellphones) and ones that may surprise you (toys, pizza boxes). Two of the most common toxins are phthalates—chemicals used to make plastics more flexible and thought to be linked to harmful effects on the endocrine system, which can lower IQ and lead to breathing troubles—and highly fluorinated chemicals, or HFCs, used to make items nonstick or waterproof but which are also tied to testicular and kidney cancer, thyroid issues, and liver malfunction, among other problems. In what the study's authors say is the first mega-study of its kind, they scrutinized data from 26 past studies and one unpublished one, with dust containing 45 chemicals collected from homes, schools, and workplaces in 14 states, per Scientific American. The Toxic Substances Control Act was updated earlier this year, per the Atlantic, but the law only requires new chemicals get a green light from the EPA—leaving about 1,000 examination-worthy chemicals already on the market that the agency doesn't have the resources to study. "We think our homes are safe havens, but … the surprising reality [is] that our homes are being polluted by the products we have every day," co-author Veena Singla tells CBS News. How you can decrease your risk, the authors say, per CNN: Wash your hands regularly and use a strong vacuum with a HEPA filter. (Arkansas prisoners fear they were exposed to toxic dust.)