Summary:
A recent study has pinpointed two detrimental chemicals: organophosphate flame retardants and quaternary ammonium compounds (QACs). Flame retardants are found in dyes, plastics, furniture, foam products, construction materials, and electronics, while QACs are integral to surface cleaners, hand sanitizers, soaps, hair products, fabric softeners and disinfectants. The study has shown that both QACs and flame retardants pose significant health hazards. The researchers have linked exposure to QACs and flame retardant metabolites to adverse neurological outcomes in children. Examining data spanning from 2013 to 2018, the team discovered these metabolites in 1,753 out of 1,763 urine samples from 3-11-year-olds. Children with the highest urinary flame retardant metabolite levels were twice as likely to require special education and had six times the risk of being diagnosed with motor dysfunction.
Abstract:
Exposure to environmental chemicals can impair neurodevelopment, and oligodendrocytes may be particularly vulnerable, as their development extends from gestation into adulthood. However, few environmental chemicals have been assessed for potential risks to oligodendrocytes. Here, using a high-throughput developmental screen in cultured cells, we identified environmental chemicals in two classes that disrupt oligodendrocyte development through distinct mechanisms. Quaternary compounds, ubiquitous in disinfecting agents and personal care products, were potently and selectively cytotoxic to developing oligodendrocytes, whereas organophosphate flame retardants, commonly found in household items such as furniture and electronics, prematurely arrested oligodendrocyte maturation. Chemicals from each class impaired oligodendrocyte development postnatally in mice and in a human 3D organoid model of prenatal cortical development. Analysis of epidemiological data showed that adverse neurodevelopmental outcomes were associated with childhood exposure to the top organophosphate flame retardant identified by our screen. This work identifies toxicological vulnerabilities for oligodendrocyte development and highlights the need for deeper scrutiny of these compounds’ impacts on human health.
Article Publication Date: 25/03/2024
DOI: 10.1038/s41593-024-01599-2
