Study Links Household Chemicals to Brain Health Risks

Research identifies two chemical classes in everyday products as harmful, underscoring the need for further investigation and exposure minimization.

Researchers from Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine have found that common household chemicals can harm brain cells called oligodendrocytes, potentially linking them to neurological diseases like multiple sclerosis and autism.
The study identified two classes of chemicals, organophosphate flame retardants and quaternary ammonium compounds, as particularly harmful. These are found in a wide range of products from furniture to personal care products.
Exposure to these chemicals has been linked to adverse neurological outcomes in children, and the chemicals have been shown to cause oligodendrocytes to die or prevent their maturation in laboratory and animal studies.
The findings highlight the need for further investigation into the association between these chemicals and neurological health, as well as the development of measures to minimize exposure.
The research was supported by grants from the National Institutes of Health, National Multiple Sclerosis Society, Howard Hughes Medical Institute, and New York Stem Cell Foundation, among others.