New study in the journal Epidemiology has found a link between chemicals found in carpet dust and increased risk of non-Hodgkin's lymphoma (NHL).

The toxic chemical is PCBs (polychlorinated biphenyls)

How the Study was Conducted

Carpet dust samples were collected from the homes of 603 NHL patients and 443 controls. The subjects had owned most of their carpets for at least 5 years.

According to Dr. Joanne S. Colt, of the National Institutes of Health, Rockville, Maryland, the risk of developing non-Hodgkin's lymphoma was

50 percent higher if any of the PCB compounds

were found in the carpet.

Although Dr. Colt does not believe that contaminated carpet dust is a major route of exposure to these compounds, however, she does believe because these chemicals persist in carpets for many years, their presence in carpet dust today could be indicative of exposures that occurred many years ago.

Reference

Colt JS, Severson RK, Lubin J, Rothman N, Camann D, Davis S, Cerhan JR, Cozen W, Hartge P. Organochlorines in carpet dust and non-Hodgkin lymphoma.

Epidemiology. 2005 Jul;16(4):516-25.