Toxins Which Affect Immune System Found in Schools

Tag : Flame-Retardant Fabric

They found that levels of HBCD in classroom dust were significantlyhigher than that from samples in offices and homes.
Levels of TBBP-A were similar to those found in dust from homes,but higher than samples taken from cars and offices.
Too little is yet known about concentrations of PFOS and PFOA inindoor dust to evaluate how classroom levels compare with those inother indoor environments.
Emma Goosey, who presented the study to the conference, held at theInternational Convention Centre, said: "Our results show thatclassrooms contain significant levels of these compounds.
"We already know that children are more likely than adults to beexposed to persistent organic pollutants by consuming dust. We alsoknow that they are also more susceptible to the effects of suchchemicals.
"The levels in classrooms seem to be higher than some other commonenvironments probably because of the high numbers of computers andfire/stain retardants used in furniture. Because they canaccumulate in the body it is important that we monitor levels ofexposure across our lifespan."
The team used their findings to calculate a child's likely exposurefrom ingesting dust, which showed exposure to HBCD and TBBP- A issignificant, while classroom exposure to PFOS and PFOA is below theadvised levels set by the Government.
Dr Stuart Harrad, who is a member of the Government's DioxinStrategy Group and chair of Dioxin 2008, added: "Dust seems to be amajor source of childhood exposure to these compounds.
"Our initial work suggests that exposure in classrooms is withinsafe levels for some chemicals, but may not be for other widely-used chemicals, and more work is needed to assess how exposure fromvarious sources accumulates - particularly as these chemicalsremain within the body.
"Health risks are likely to occur from prolonged exposure fromseveral sources, so one area that we are currently looking into ischildren's exposure to compounds that could metabolise into POPchemicals within the body."
emma.brady@birminghampost.net
(c) 2008 Birmingham Post; Birmingham (UK). Provided by ProQuestLLC. All rights Reserved.

Source: Birmingham Post; Birmingham (UK)
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