The danger posed by toxic chemicals in the environment has been a widely recognized and extensively studied public health issue for decades. But only recently have the possible effects of these chemicals on pet health been seriously studied.
A New Report Raises New Concerns
The Environmental Working Group (EWG), a Washington, D.C.-based not-for-profit research organization, recently issued the results of what it describes as “the most comprehensive investigation of the chemical body burden of companion animals conducted to date.” In the study, twenty-three dogs and thirty-seven cats were tested for the presence of seventy industrial chemicals. The report provides important information on the extent of potentially dangerous chemical exposure in pets. These were some of its findings:
- The animals tested showed contamination with forty-eight of the seventy chemicals tested.
- Forty-three of the chemicals were found “at levels higher than those typically found in people.’’
- Blood and urine samples taken from the dogs studied were found to be contaminated with thirty-five chemicals, including eleven carcinogens, thirty-one chemicals toxic to the reproductive system, and twenty-four neurotoxins.
- Samples from the cats contained forty-six chemicals altogether, including nine carcinogens, forty chemicals toxic to the reproductive system, thirty-four neurotoxins, and fifteen chemicals toxic to the endocrine system.
Chemicals? What Chemicals?
Most pet owners are diligent when it comes to monitoring their pets’ diets and general health. So, it may come as a surprise to learn that there are literally scores of chemicals—some of them known to be toxic or potentially carcinogenic—to which our pets are exposed on a regular basis. The list reads like the index of a chemistry textbook, and includes: polybrominated biphenyl ethers (PBDEs), phthalates, oxytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE), ethoxyquin, propylene glycol, bisphenol A (BPA), and perfluorochemicals (PFCs).
Where Do They Come From?
According to the EWG report, the sources of industrial chemicals found in the pet environment are many, and include substances widely used in consumer and pet products:
- PBDEs are fire retardants commonly used in foam furniture and bedding manufactured before 2005.
- Phthalates are a group of chemicals commonly used as softeners in many plastic items, including pet chew toys.
- PFCs are found in food bag coatings, house dust, stain-proof furniture, cat beds, carpets, and non-stick cooking utensils.
- You can find mercury compounds in a variety of industrial sources.
- Garden insecticides and herbicides, such as the commonly used 2,4-D,. also contain many harmful chemicals.
