Researchers have discovered that common household chemicals found in countless household products can harm brain cells called oligodendrocytes, potentially linking them to neurological diseases like multiple sclerosis and autism.
Analysing over 1,800 chemicals, they pinpointed organophosphate flame retardants and quaternary ammonium compounds as harmful.
These findings, which necessitate further investigation, highlight the urgent need for more scrutiny on the effects of these chemicals on brain health and the development of measures to minimize exposure.
A team of researchers from the Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine has provided fresh insight into the dangers some common household chemicals pose to brain health.
They suggest that chemicals found in a wide range of items, from furniture to hair products, may be linked to neurological diseases like multiple sclerosis and autism spectrum disorders.
Neurological problems impact millions of people, but only a fraction of cases can be attributed to genetics alone, indicating that unknown environmental factors are important contributors to neurological disease.
The new study, published in the journal Nature Neuroscience, discovered that some common home chemicals specifically affect the brain’s oligodendrocytes, a specialised cell type that generates the protective insulation around nerve cells.
They declared, “Loss of oligodendrocytes underlies multiple sclerosis and other neurological diseases. We now show that specific chemicals in consumer products can directly harm oligodendrocytes, representing a previously unrecognised risk factor for neurological disease.”
On the premise that not enough thorough research has been done on the impact of chemicals on brain health, the researchers analyzed over 1,800 chemicals that may be exposed to humans.
They identified chemicals that selectively damage oligodendrocytes and belong to two classes: organophosphate flame retardants and quaternary ammonium compounds.
Since quaternary ammonium compounds are present in many personal-care products and disinfectants, which are being used more frequently since the COVID-19 pandemic began, humans are regularly exposed to these chemicals. And many electronics and furniture include organophosphate flame retardants.
The association between human exposure to these chemicals and their effects on brain health requires further investigation, the experts warned. Future research must track the chemical levels in the brains of adults and children to determine the amount and length of exposure needed to cause or worsen disease.