My dad sent me this and asked for my comment, so I thought I would post it here to see if anyone had any additional insight. I was aware that organophosphates are bad, but not aware that they were...
My dad sent me this and asked for my comment, so I thought I would post it here to see if anyone had any additional insight.
I was aware that organophosphates are bad, but not aware that they were used to make clothing flame retardant. The quatenernary ammonia angle is concerning given that almost all household cleaners are either QA or bleach based. It seems the key element here is the impact of these chemicals on a different aspect of neural tissue than usually studied.
Two classes of chemicals [Quaternary ammonium compounds and organophosphate flame retardants] present in common household products may impair the development of oligodendrocytes, the myelinating cells of the central nervous system (CNS), which are critical to brain development and function. However, the researchers as well as outside experts agree more research is needed before any firm conclusions can be drawn.
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They found that quaternary compounds were potently and selectively cytotoxic to developing oligodendrocytes and that organophosphate flame retardants prematurely arrested oligodendrocyte maturation. These effects were confirmed in mice and cultured human oligodendrocytes.
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"This study alone shouldn't sound neurotoxicant alarms yet. We've seen many past chemical scares like saccharin and phthalates fizzle despite alarming lab results when real-world human brain impacts failed to materialize," Lakhan cautioned.
"Far more rigorous research directly linking household chemical exposures to cognitive deficits in people is still needed before drawing firm conclusions or prompting overreactions from the general public. Policymakers will eventually need to weigh potential risks vs benefits, but no definitive human health threat has currently been established," Lakhan said.
My dad sent me this and asked for my comment, so I thought I would post it here to see if anyone had any additional insight.
I was aware that organophosphates are bad, but not aware that they were used to make clothing flame retardant. The quatenernary ammonia angle is concerning given that almost all household cleaners are either QA or bleach based. It seems the key element here is the impact of these chemicals on a different aspect of neural tissue than usually studied.