Exposure to Household Chemicals Affects Gut Microbiome

Research finds children at greater risk for chemical exposures and resulting consequences

A study has linked exposure to household chemicals with impacts on the gut microbiomes of children, which may increase their risk of some diseases.Halfpoint/Shutterstock

A study out of Washington State University, in collaboration with Duke University, has found the first evidence linking exposure to household chemicals with impacts on the gut microbiomes of children.

Published in the journal Environmental Science and Technology Letters, the pioneering study could lead to better awareness of the hazards of repeated exposures to common chemicals generally regarded as safe for use in the home.

Chemicals at Home: A Veiled Threat

The study, based in North Carolina and funded by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, sought to gauge the average toddler’s exposure to semivolatile organic compounds (SVOCs) in the indoor environment.