Pets exposed to toxic chemicals in our homes

Dogs and cats are curious animals. We all love to watch our pets sniff under the furniture or bat around tattered old squeaky toys. Unfortunately, growing evidence shows that many of the products that we use to keep our pets happy and healthy actually expose them to toxic chemicals known as PFAS.

PFAS and pet products

PFAS are often called “forever chemicals” because they take thousands of years to break down. 

They are also linked to cancer, liver disease, respiratory issues, and other health problems. And if people are at risk from exposure to toxic PFAS, you can bet that our little animal friends are even more vulnerable. 

PFAS are a class of over 12,000 widely-used chemicals. They’re often used to stain-proof plastics or fabrics, so carpets, furniture, toys and the like often contain PFAS, and household dust is a hot spot for PFAS contamination. Pets can easily be exposed to these toxic chemicals as they sniff around, curl up on the couch, or chew plastic toys. Indeed, one study found PFAS contamination in every single one of the 30 house dogs it tested.

Another threat to pets are PFAS-laced pesticides. PFAS are used in many pesticides, including those used for lawn care or flea collars. If you use a flea collar, you might be applying toxic chemicals directly to your pet’s skin! Pesticide containing PFAS is also used on crops, which can end up in pet food (or human food for that matter).  

Effects of PFAS on pets and their owners

PFAS exposure carries major risks. Several years ago, pets near a PFAS plant in North Carolina began to suffer from mysterious illnesses. As The Guardian reported: 

“One cat repeatedly fell face-first into her food, [the owner] said, and another wobbled while it walked, which a vet attributed to unexplained kidney and neurological disorders. Two of his dogs had to drag themselves after losing use of their back legs, and Stokes put them to sleep.”

While the exposure in our homes is less extreme, the story shows the toxic effects PFAS can have in our homes. One scientist has found a link between PFAS in households and liver disease in dogs, as well as respiratory problems in cats. 

How to reduce PFAS in your home

It’s easy to get overwhelmed by all the scary stories about PFAS. But there are things you can do to minimize risk to your pets. 

Consider buying natural flea collars, or even considering whether your pet needs a flea collar at all. 

When purchasing furniture, carpets, toys or anything else your pet will be exposed to, steer away from anything labeled as stain, water or grease resistant. That’s a sign that they contain PFAS. Instead, invest in toxic-free pet products that your pets can enjoy safely. 

Finally, dust is one of the most common ways for PFAS to spread. Get in the habit of wiping down surfaces or use a household air filter if you want to minimize dust exposure.

But even with all these measures, it’s probably not possible to eliminate every source of PFAS in your home. The only long-term solution is to stop putting toxic PFAS into so many everyday items. That’s why we’re leading the push to take PFAS chemicals out of the pesticides we spray on our food. 

Tell the Environmental Protection Agency to keep you—and your pets—safe from toxic PFAS in pesticides.