Researchers at the Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine in Ohio, USA, are “sounding the alarm” about the harmful effect that everyday chemicals have on the health of the human brain.
According to their study published in the scientific journal “Nature Neuroscience”, chemicals contained in many products and objects we have in our homes – from furniture and electronic devices to disinfectants and hair care products – are possibly linked to serious neurological diseases such as multiple sclerosis and autism spectrum disorders.
The role of the environment
Millions of people suffer from neurological disorders worldwide, yet only a percentage of neurological cases are attributed solely to genetic causes. This fact testifies that environmental factors probably also contribute significantly to the occurrence of different neurological diseases.
“Wound” in oligodendrocytes
According to the new study, common everyday chemicals have a negative effect on oligodendrocytes, specialized brain cells that create the protective “insulation” that surrounds nerve cells – this “sheath” is vital for their proper functioning.
Link to neurological disorders
“Loss of brain oligodendrocytes is associated with the onset of multiple sclerosis and other neurological disorders,” noted the new study’s principal investigator, Paul Tezar, Professor of Innovative Therapeutics and director of the Institute for Glial Sciences at Case Western Reserve University, and added: “We showed now that certain chemicals contained in consumer products can directly damage oligodendrocytes, constituting a previously unknown risk factor for neurological disorders.”
The two “guilty” categories of chemicals
In order to reach their conclusions, the researchers analyzed more than 1,800 chemicals that humans are exposed to. They found that the chemicals that selectively destroy oligodendrocytes fall into two categories: organophosphate flame retardants (OPFRs) and quaternary ammonium compounds (QACs).
Given that QACs are contained in many personal hygiene products as well as disinfectants, which are now used much more frequently after the COVID-19 pandemic, people are exposed to these chemicals on a regular basis. At the same time, many electronic devices as well as furniture contain OPFRs, with the result that the population has daily contact with them.
Experiments in the laboratory and on mice
The scientists used cell systems as well as organelles in the laboratory to show that QACs drive oligodendrocytes to die while OPFRs prevent these cells from maturing. They then showed in mice that both classes of chemicals destroy oligodendrocytes in the developing rodent brain. They also linked exposure to one of the chemicals to “poor” neurological development in children.
The “missing environmental link” of neurological diseases
“We found that oligodendrocytes – but not other brain cells – are surprisingly vulnerable to both OPFRs and QACs,” said Erin Kohn, lead author of the new study and a graduate student in the Medical Science Education Program at Case University School of Medicine. Western Reserve and added: “Understanding human exposure to these chemicals may provide an explanation for the ‘missing link’ in the development of certain neurological diseases.”
Regulatory measures and behavioral interventions
According to the researchers, further research is now needed to establish the link between human exposure to the chemicals and their effect on brain health. Future research should focus on identifying the levels of the chemicals in the brains of adults and children in order to determine the duration and levels of exposure that are detrimental to health.
“We hope that our research work will contribute to informed decision-making by the authorities regarding regulatory measures as well as behavioral interventions in order to reduce the population’s exposure to chemicals and protect human health,” concluded Professor Tezar.
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