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Dangerous chemicals that threaten IQ and children’s memory – They are everywhere

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Until now, they may have been considered safe and used in thousands of products, from electrical appliances to car seats, but new scientific work suggests that there is a class of chemicals that directly threatens the brain development of an entire generation – What is it?

According to a post published in Environmental Health Perspectives, chemicals increasingly used as flame retardants and plasticizers pose a greater risk to children’s brain development than previously believed.

The research team examined dozens of human, animal, and cell studies and determined that even low doses of the chemicals, called organophosphate esters, may impair children’s intelligence, attention, and memory in ways that regulators have not yet considered.

While the neurotoxicity of organophosphate esters used as nerve agents and pesticides is well established, the neurotoxicity of those used as flame retardants and plasticizers has long been thought to be low. As a result, they are broadly utilized in electronics, car seats and other infant items, furniture, and construction materials to replace some phased-out or banned halogenated flame retardants. Nevertheless, the scientists’ investigation indicated that these compounds are neurotoxic as well, albeit via distinct modes of action.

“The use of organophosphate esters in everything from TVs to car seats has proliferated under the false assumption that they’re safe. Unfortunately, these chemicals appear to be just as harmful as the chemicals they’re intended to replace but act by a different mechanism,” said study’s lead author Heather Patisaul from North Carolina State University.

Organophosphate esters are constantly escaping from products into the air and dust. Contaminated dust accumulates on our hands and is swallowed unknowingly when we eat. This is why these substances have been discovered in almost everyone who has been tested. Children are especially vulnerable because to their hand-to-mouth habit. As a result, babies and young children have significantly higher levels of these substances in their systems during the most susceptible stages of brain development.

“Organophosphate esters threaten the brain development of a whole generation,” said Linda Birnbaum – co-author.

“If we don’t stem their use now, the consequences will be grave and irreversible.”

The authors advocate for the elimination of all superfluous usage of organophosphate esters. This includes their use as flame retardants in consumer products, cars, and construction materials to comply with insufficient flammability requirements.

For applications where organophosphate esters are deemed necessary, the authors urge that governments and industry conduct alternatives analyses and invest in environmentally friendly alternatives.

“Organophosphate esters in many products serve no essential function while posing a serious risk, especially to our children,” said senior associate and co-author Carol Kwiatkowski from the Green Science Policy Institute.

“It’s urgent that product manufacturers critically reevaluate the uses of organophosphate ester flame retardants and plasticizers, many may be doing more harm than good.”

Source: Green Science Policy Institute

Image Credit: Getty

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