disinfection

[Guth an Dòchais 4 Cèitean, 2024](Editor: Li Wenhan) The industrial revolution brought many resources to human life, and it also introduced many chemical substances that had not been exposed to in the human living environment. The human central system is particularly sensitive to environmental stimuli during development, and it is easy exposure to toxic chemicals during critical developmental periods.interfere with brain development.

In recent years, the prevalence of neurodevelopmental disorders, including autism and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, has been quietly increasing. However, genetic factors cannot be the cause. fully explained.

Toxic chemicals can easily disrupt brain development (photoAC)

Recently, the scientific team at Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine published an article in Nature Neuroscience Researchers found,Disinfection/personal care productsQuaternary ammonium compounds commonly found in chemicals and organophosphorus flame retardants commonly used in furniture/electronic products can affect oligodendrocyte development.

Epidemiological evidence shows that exposure to organophosphorus flame TDCIPP in childhood is associated with an increased risk of adverse neurodevelopmental outcomes such as the need for special education and motor control deficits Children with high exposure more likely to experience various neurodevelopmental outcomes than children with lower exposure Sex up to 2-6 times.

In previous studies, scientists generally focused more on neurons than glial cells Of course, glial cells also play a very important role. Oligodendrocytes are important neuron support cells. Studies have found that impaired development or loss of oligodendrocytes can lead to severe cognitive and motor defects.

The developmental window period of oligodendrocytes is very long. Mature oligodendrocytes begin to produce myelin, a process that peaks in infancy and childhood but continues through adolescence and adulthood. Oligodendrocytes are therefore susceptible to damage long after birth.

Common household fertilizers are poisoning the next generation (pixabay)

To identify environmental chemicals that affect the production of oligodendrocytes, the researchers built a library containing 1823 chemicals and OPCs with a concentration of 20 μM will develop into oligodendrocytes within 3 days on oligodendrocytes.

Experimental results showed that more than 80% of chemical substances did not affect the development or stimulation of oligodendrocytes, 292 substances were considered to be cytotoxic for the development of oligodendrocytes, and 47 substances inhibited the production of oligodendrocytes.

The researchers analyzed cytotoxic chemicals and found a common chemical structural feature, a nitrogen-centered tetraalkyl structure. There are 13 compounds with this structure in the chemical library, 9 of which are toxic to oligodendrocytes, and 4 of which are among the most toxic which can cause a reduction of more than 80% of cell activity.

This toxicity is specific to oligodendrocytes. The researchers tested the most common quaternary ammonium compounds found in everyday life, C12-C14 and ADEBC, and found that oligodendrocytes were 21 to 100 times more toxic than astrocytes and fibroblasts.

Next, the researchers analyzed 47 chemicals that inhibit oligodendrocyte development and found that the phosphate group was the most abundant of them (see the yellow group in the image above). This group consists of three common chemical substances: TMPP, TBPP and TDCIPP These three substances are all organophosphates and are widely used as pesticides and flame retardants.

Researchers used TDCIPP to culture human cortical organoids for 60-70 days and found that although the total cell density did not change, oligodendrocytes decreased by more than 70%.

baby (pictureAC)

Does this mean that the corresponding chemicals in our lives cause disease?

The researchers used data from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to estimate the exposure of TDCIPP through BDCIPP in urine. Among American children aged 3-11 who were studied from 2013 to 2018, 1753 out of 1763 children (99.4%) had BDCIPP in their urine samples, and the rate was significantly higher than that of adults, who ‘ indicate that the flame retardant content in children may be high. By comparing different generations, it can also be found that the problem of childhood exposure to organophosphorus torches is increasing.

Grouping BDCIPP levels into quartiles, high levels of urinary BDCIPP were found to be significantly associated with poor neurodevelopmental outcomes. Children in the highest level group had double the risk of special education (OR 2.0) and a 500% increased risk of severe mobility impairment (OR 6.0). This provides strong evidence for a positive association between organophosphorus flame exposure and abnormal neurodevelopment.

Quaternary ammonium compounds and organophosphorus flame retardants are very common in our lives. Quaternary ammonium compounds arepersonal care productsmedicines, antistatic agents,DisinfectionFrequent visitors, especially since the COVID-19 pandemic, studies have found that the levels of some quaternary ammonium compounds in people’s blood have doubled. Organophosphorus flame retardants have also been “integrated” by humans for a long time and are found in human blood, urine, breast milk and cerebrospinal fluid.

How to avoid common things in life? Behavioral intervention studies indicate that identification of proper cleaning products and cleaning methods, regular house cleaning, and frequent hand washing can effectively reduce exposure to flame retardants. For the rest, we still have to wait for the store to solve the problem.

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Editor-in-Chief: Li Zhi