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Dust Bunnies Make You Sick

This article was published in Scientific American’s former blog network and reflects the views of the author, not necessarily those of Scientific American



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Video of the Week #71, November 29th, 2012: From:Worse Than Bedbugs, It's the Couch Itself by Kalliopi Monoyios at Guest Blog. Source: Audio and production: Mollie Bloudoff-Indelicato, Video: Isha Soni, Artwork: Marissa Fessenden. Dust bunnies are seriously dangerous. Those tiny globs of grime are much more than simple household nuisances. They can contain noxious flame retardant chemicals that leak out of living room furniture like couches. Once free of the upholstery, these toxins are especially harmful to children and pets, acting as carcinogens and endocrine disruptors. Related:Infographic: Fire Safety BuzzkillThe Environmental Fallout of Greener Buildings