Topline
Two chemicals found in common household products like disinfectants and furniture may play a role in the development of neurological disorders like autism and multiple sclerosis, according to a new study, adding to previous research that found the chemicals may be detrimental to human health.
Key Facts
The researchers examined over 1,800 common household chemicals—which they believe lacked research on their potential link to brain health—and discovered two that may have a negative effect on brain health: quaternary ammonium compounds (also called “quats” or QACs) and organophosphate flame retardants, according to the new study published Monday in Nature Neuroscience.
Quats are found in products like body washes, fabric softeners, shampoos, sunscreens, baby wipes, shaving creams and disinfectants like some Lysol, Clorox and Downy products.
Organophosphate flame retardants are found in electronic devices, building materials and furniture via flame retardant foam and plastic, according to the environmental advocacy program the Green Science Policy Institute.
Quats cause oligodendrocytes—brain cells that generate the protective layer around nerve cells—to die, while organophosphate flame retardants prevent them from maturing, according to the study.
Research shows disrupted oligodendrocytes production is tied to neurological disorders like multiple sclerosis and autism, so the study researchers believe they’ve uncovered a “previously unrecognized risk factor for neurological disease,” Paul Tesar, study author and a director at the Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine, said in a statement.
Forbes has reached out to the Clorox Company, Procter & Gamble (the parent company of Downy) and Reckitt (the parent company of Lysol) for comment.
Crucial Quote
“We hope our work will contribute to informed decisions regarding regulatory measures or behavioral interventions to minimize chemical exposure and protect human health,” Tesar said in a statement.
Big Number
1.8 million. That’s how many people globally have multiple sclerosis, according to the World Health Organization. The agency also found around one in 100 children worldwide have been diagnosed with autism.
Key Background
As other flame retardants were phased out from use due to concerns over their toxicity, more companies began using organophosphate flame retardants in their place. However, research suggests these flame retardants may not be a better alternative as they may have negative effects on reproductive and nervous system development. Newborn rats exposed to organophosphate flame retardants in the womb had altered brain development, according to a 2022 study. Research also suggests quats may have other negative impacts on health. The American Osteopathic Association looked at the chemicals’ effects on mice and found they cause male mice to have decreased sperm counts, and female mice to ovulate less and have fewer implantations. Exposure to the chemicals was also linked to birth defects in mice, according to a study published in Birth Defects Research. Some types of quats have been found to cause workplace asthma, according to research from Mount Sinai.
Quats
The Nature Neuroscience study researchers noted an increased exposure to quats due to increased use of disinfectants since the Covid pandemic. This increased use follows the same rate of increase in diseases like autism, autoimmune disorders and asthma, according to a leg of the California Department of Public Health. This and other evidence led to the agency unanimously voting to explore how quats may negatively affect human health.
Read the full article here
