India, Nov. 23 -- Cockroaches are not just harmful pests; they can also degrade indoor air quality. Researchers at North Carolina State University have found a clear connection between the insects and the high levels of bacterial endotoxins and allergens that worsen health and indoor air quality. The study was published in The Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology: Global.

Endotoxins are fragments of bacterial cell walls that get released when bacteria die. Since cockroaches consume a wide range of materials, they have a diverse gut microbiome and shed large quantities of endotoxins via their droppings.

The research said that eliminating cockroaches via pest control can help reduce these endotoxins and allergens.

The research was ...