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What can tiny zebrafish teach us about human obesity? University of Houston researchers recently observed how zebrafish exposed to obesogens (compounds believed to have links to obesity) became heavier and longer than their siblings when given the same diet.
Such obesogens are common in flame retardants used in all manner of everyday appliances and furniture, from sofas to toys to electronics. (They can also accumulate in household dust and concentrate in places like dryer lint).
The UH study explores just one of many health concerns environmental health experts have about the potential impacts of flame retardants. But there's a long way to go to make a connection between fish growth in one study, and a sweeping conclusion about the health effects of flame retardants in general. We learn about the UH study. Then we consider a broader question: just what health risks might exist due to prolonged exposure to certain chemicals in flame retardants?
