48 Chemical Polluants Found in Pets

"TERRE HAUTE — A recent study conducted by an environmental group concluded that cats most likely have more mercury in their systems than most people, and dogs were found to have twice as much chemicals from stain resistant carpets and sofas. Walking on stain-resistant carpets and lounging on sofas can loosen perfluorochemicals, aka PFCs, which can then be inhaled.

A not-for-profit research organization in Washington, D.C., the Environmental Working Group, took samples from healthy cats and dogs at a clinic in Mechanicsville, Va. Cats and dogs were found to be contaminated with 48 of 70 industrial chemicals tested. Richard Wiles and his colleagues revealed a number of chemicals, which included Teflon for stain resistance, flame retardants found on furniture upholstery, and mercury (which may come from cat food). Some chemicals found in plastics (phthalates) and lead were lower in pets than in people. Dogs were found to have more than twice the levels of stain fighting PFCs than people. Cats had mercury levels five times the amount usually found in people. The group discovered levels of flame-retardant polybrominated diphenyl ethers, aka PBDEs, to be 23 times higher."

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