Scientists in the US tested extracts of household dust on mouse "pre-fat" cells grown in a laboratory. These are cells known to develop into fat cells when exposed to fat-causing chemicals.

According to researchers dust extracts exhibited significant triglyceride accumulation and significant adipogenic activity was also exhibited by 28 of the semivolatile organic chemicals found in houses. The researchers found the cells were more likely to divide into fat cells and accumulate more fat after being exposed to most samples of dust.

This research published in the journal Environmental Science & Technology finds that common household dust can cause fat cells to accumulate more triglycerides, or fat.

Source: DOI: 10.1021/acs.est.7b01788, seeker.com, nhs.uk