Key points:
- Common household chemicals—organophosphate flame retardants and quaternary ammonium compounds—were found to damage and destroy oligodendrocytes in cellular and organoid systems as well as in developing mouse brains.
- These chemicals may be an environmental factor underlying neurological diseases, such as multiple sclerosis and autism.
- The results of this study should prompt development of interventions that minimize chemical exposure and protect brain health.
In a new study, published in Nature Neuroscience, researchers provide new insights into the danger household chemicals can pose to brain health. Chemicals found in items ranging from furniture to hair products may be linked to neurological diseases, including multiple sclerosis and autism.
Researchers analyzed over 1,800 household chemicals and identified which selectively damage the brain’s oligodendrocytes—a specialized cell type that generates the insulation around nerve cells. They found these chemicals were either organophosphate flame retardants or quaternary ammonium compounds. Quaternary ammonium compounds are present in many personal-care products and disinfectants, while many electronics and furniture contain organophosphate flame retardants.
Using cellular and organoid systems, the team showed that quaternary ammonium compounds cause oligodendrocytes to die. In the same experimental set-up, organophosphate flame retardants prevented oligodendrocyte maturation.
Researchers also demonstrated that these same chemicals damaged oligodendrocytes in the developing brains of mice. Finally, they linked exposure to one of the chemicals to poor neurological outcomes in children nationally.
The association between human exposure to these chemicals and brain health needs further investigation. As the loss of oligodendrocytes underlies multiple sclerosis and other neurological diseases, future research should track the chemical levels in the brains of both adults and children. Determining the amount and length of exposure that can cause or worsen disease is critical for safeguarding brain health.
“Our findings suggest that more comprehensive scrutiny of the impacts of these common household chemicals on brain health is necessary,” said study investigator Paul Tesar, professor at Case Western Reserve University. “We hope our work will contribute to informed decisions regarding regulatory measures or behavioral interventions to minimize chemical exposure and protect human health.”