Posted October 1, 2026 by Sarah Dunk
Category: Advice, Cockroaches

In the news recently a team at North Carolina State University have found a direct link between cockroach infestations and invisible toxins in the home. The study shows that the more cockroaches found in the home, the more dangerous allergens and bacteria that is floating in the air you breathe.

But what is the good news? When you have a Professional Pest Controller treat your house, they aren’t just killing the bugs. They are helping clear the air, this will then create a safer environment for your family.

What are “Endotoxins”?

The study focused on something called endotoxins. These are toxic substances released by bacteria when they die.

As you know cockroaches will eat almost anything they can find such as trash, leftover food and waste products. This means their stomachs are full of bacteria. These toxins are released when cockroaches go to the bathroom in their poop. While pets and humans do contribute to household germs found, the study shows that in infested homes, a lot of the toxic dust comes specifically from cockroach droppings.

Females and Kitchens are the Riskiest

The researchers looked at apartments in Raleigh, N.C., and discovered two major details:

• Female cockroaches are the worst offenders: Because female roaches eat more food than males, they produce twice as much toxic waste.
• Kitchens are hotspots: Since cockroaches hang out where the food is found, kitchens had much higher levels of toxins than bedrooms.

Why You Can’t Just Kill a “Few”

The study compared homes that used professional pest controller, to homes that did not.

It was easy to see that you needed to get rid of the whole infestation.

Professor Coby Schal, who led the study, explained that doing a “partial” job isn’t enough. If you only reduce the number of cockroaches, the remaining roaches will keep eating and pooping, this keeps the allergen levels high. It was only homes that eliminated the cockroaches saw a real drop in toxins.

Why This Matters for Your Health

These toxins don’t just stay on the floor. The study found that cockroach allergens become airborne, meaning you are likely breathing them in.

This can be dangerous for everyone, but especially for people with asthma or any breathing issues. By inhaling these toxins, you can trigger allergic reactions, and which would make breathing difficulties much worse. The researchers are now planning to study exactly how these roach toxins interact with asthma to better understand the health risks.

If you would like to read more on this study click here.