Hand Sanitizer And Brain: From the days of the pandemic, when the fear of coronavirus gripped the minds of people, hand sanitizers became not only a necessity but a tool to fight the virus and save lives.
The sudden surge in the use and sale of hand sanitizers was evident and even though, today we are out of the pandemic era, the habit of frequently using hand sanitizers remains.
Now in a recent study, which was carried out on the basis of human cell cultures and mice, it was found that the chemicals present in common household disinfectants like furniture, textiles, disinfectants, and glues are likely to damage the supporting cells present in the brain, especially during important stages of the organ’s development.
Ohio’s Case Western Reserve University molecular biologist Erin Cohn and his colleagues looked into 1,823 compounds of unknown toxicity and discovered two types of chemicals that either killed or paused the maturation of cells known as oligodendrocytes under laboratory conditions.
Oligodendrocytes are a kind of neurological support cell. These cells wrap around the neurons to form an insulating covering which ensures that brain signals are moving at a speed.
What are the chemicals doing to brain cells?
The experts identified one of the two chemical classes as quaternary compounds, which are used in wipes, hand sanitizers, disinfectant spray, and personal care products like toothpaste and mouthwash for killing bacteria and viruses. The users, while using these products, can ingest or inhale the chemicals.
The other chemical class identified was organophosphates. These chemicals, which serve as flame retardants, are commonly present in textiles, glues, and household items like electronics and furniture.
Humans can absorb the fat-soluble organophosphates through the skin and can reach into the brain.
In the experiments carried out on mice, an oral dose of one of three quaternary compounds was given to them and days later they found detectable levels of those chemicals in the brain tissue.
It was also found that less numbers of oligodendrocytes were present in the brains of the animals after they were administered 10 daily doses of one type of quaternary compound known as cetylpyridinium chloride. This was administered during the brain development’s key period.
“We found that oligodendrocytes – but not other brain cells – are surprisingly vulnerable to quaternary ammonium compounds and organophosphate flame retardants,” said Cohn.
The article originally appeared on WION.