Cleaning up animal feces can be a stench, and new research gives owners more reason to hold their noses. Researchers at the Grossman School of Medicine at New York University say that they have discovered chemicals in dog and cat feces that indicate toxic exposure in their homes. In addition, studies warn that these toxins may be linked to cancer-causing animals in humans and humans.
The authors of the study claim that aromatic amine chemicals are present in everything from cigarette smoke to dyes used in cosmetics, textiles, and plastics. An analysis of 140 dogs and cats found that cigarette smoke was not the main source of exposure, suggesting that pets are exposed to harmful chemicals from everyday products in people's homes. In total, the team found eight different aromatic amines in pet animal samples.
"Our findings suggest that pets interact with fragrant amines from products in their domestic environment," said study lead author Sidhar Chinthakindi, Ph.D., a postdoctoral partner at NYU Langone Health, in a press release. "Since these substances are linked to colorectal, and other cancers, our results may help explain why so many dogs and cats develop such diseases."
Where do these chemicals come from?
In response to indirect exposure to indoor chemicals, the team discovered a common flea control agent called amitraz may be reduced to a fragrant amine called 2,6-dimethylaniline in the pet digestive system. This chemical comprises about 70 percent of amines in dogs and 80 percent of cats.
Previous studies have explored the health risks of chemicals that disrupt the urine found in pets, but researchers say the new report is the first to look at pets' exposure to fragrant amines at home.
To find out, the team collected urine samples from 42 dogs and 21 cats and wild samples from 77 pets. All of these animals lived in homes, in animal shelters, or in animal hospitals in the state of Albany, New York.
The results show that cats had three times more concentrations of amines that smelled better in their urine than dogs. However, researchers explain that dogs and cats have different metabolic processes that contribute to this difference. Specifically, cats do not break these combinations with dogs.
Significantly, the study did not show a difference in the levels of amine-scented ammunition between pets and pets in shelters or hospitals. Researchers say that this shows how often pets and humans come in contact with these potentially toxic substances.
"Since pets are small and highly sensitive to toxins, they act as 'canaries in a coal mine' to assess the chemical risks to human health," said senior research author Kurunthachalam Kannan, Ph.D., professor in the Department of Pediatrics at NYU Langone. . "If they find poison in our homes, we better consider our exposure."
Increasing our risk of cancer?
Kannan, a professor at NYU Langone's Center for Investigation of Environmental Hazards, notes that it is still unclear how much of these chemicals can be tolerated by pets before they start affecting their health.
Researchers are now looking at the link between exposure to aromatic amine and the risk of bladder, thyroid, and testicular cancer in animals.
As for humans, previous studies have found a link between chemicals derived from ordinary plastic and consumer electronics products and health outbreaks. These include a higher risk of conditions such as diabetes, heart disease, and cancer.
Comments
Post a Comment