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In recent years, the prevalence of neurodevelopmental disorders, including autism and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, has been quietly increasing. However, genetic factors cannot fully explain the cause. Some researchers speculate that chemicals in the environment are also responsible for neurodevelopment. Obstacles are responsible.
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 that,Disinfectant/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 the organophosphorus flame retardant TDCIPP in childhood is associated with an increased risk of adverse neurodevelopmental outcomes such as the need for special education and motor dysfunction. Children with high exposure are more likely to experience different adverse neurodevelopmental outcomes than children with lower exposure. Sex up to 2-6 times.
In previous studies, scientists generally focused more on neurons rather than glial cells. In fact, glial cells also play a very important role. Oligodendrocytes are important neuron support cells. The myelin sheath they produce can promote neuronal information transmission and provide nutritional and metabolic support to neurons, which is crucial for maintaining neuronal function and lifespan. Studies have found that impaired development or loss of oligodendrocytes can lead to severe cognitive and motor impairments.
The developmental window period of oligodendrocytes is very long. Oligodendrocyte progenitor cells (OPCs) begin to develop during the fetal period and are most active in the first two years of life. 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 compounds are poisoning the next generation (pixabay)
In order to identify environmental chemicals that can affect the production of oligodendrocytes, the researchers constructed a library containing 1823 chemicals and treated OPCs with a concentration of 20 μM. OPCs will develop into oligodendrocytes within 3 days. Analysis during development can determine the effects of chemicals on oligodendrocytes.
Experimental results showed that more than 80% of chemical substances did not affect the development or vitality of oligodendrocytes, 292 substances were considered to be cytotoxic to developing oligodendrocytes, and 47 substances inhibited the production of oligodendrocytes. 22 species stimulate oligodendrocyte production.
The researchers analyzed cytotoxic chemicals and found a common chemical structural feature, a tetraalkyl structure centered on nitrogen. There are 13 compounds with this structure in the chemical library, 9 of which are toxic to oligodendrocytes, and 4 of them are among the most toxic. The highest toxicity can lead to a reduction of more than 80% of cell viability.
This toxicity is specific to oligodendrocytes. The researchers tested the more common quaternary ammonium compounds found in daily 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 most abundant of them was a phosphate group (see yellow group in the image above). This group is contained in 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 overall cell density did not change, oligodendrocytes decreased by more than 70%.
baby(photoAC)
Does this mean that the corresponding chemicals in our lives bring disease?
The researchers used data from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to estimate TDCIPP exposure through BDCIPP in urine. Among American children aged 3-11 surveyed from 2013 to 2018, 1753 out of 1763 children (99.4%) had BDCIPP in their urine samples, and the level was significantly higher than that of adults, indicating that the content of flame retardants in children may be higher. high. Comparing different generations, it can also be found that the problem of childhood exposure to organophosphorus flame retardants is increasing.
Grouping BDCIPP levels into quartiles, it was found that high levels of urinary BDCIPP were significantly associated with adverse neurodevelopmental outcomes. Children in the highest level group had double the risk of special education (OR 2.0) and a 500% increased risk of gross motor dysfunction (OR 6.0). This provides strong evidence for a positive association between organophosphorus flame retardant exposure and abnormal neurodevelopment.
Quaternary ammonium compounds and organophosphorus flame retardants are too common in our lives.Quaternary ammonium compounds arepersonal care productsmedicines, antistatic agents,DisinfectantFrequent visitors, especially since the COVID-19 epidemic, studies have found that the levels of some quaternary ammonium compounds in human blood have doubled. Organophosphorus flame retardants have also been “integrated” with humans for a long time and are found in human blood, urine, breast milk and cerebrospinal fluid.
How to avoid these common items in life? Behavioral intervention studies indicate that identifying the correct cleaning products and cleaning methods, cleaning the house regularly, and washing hands frequently can effectively reduce exposure to flame retardants. For the rest, we still have to wait for the source to solve the problem.
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