Study Shows Common Chemicals Injure the Central Nervous System

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Study Shows Common Chemicals Injure the Central Nervous System

September 7, 2007

American Chronicle - Beverly Hills,CA*

Lourdes Salvador

http://www.americanchronicle.com/articles/viewArticle.asp?

articleID=36335

Our world is full of neurotoxicants, many of which we are not aware

of. A neurotoxicant is a chemical substance that can cause adverse

effects on the nervous system, such as confusion, fatigue,

irritability, and behavioral changes. Central nervous system

toxicity may also lead to degenerative diseases of the brain, such

toxic encephalopathy. Chemical neurotoxicants also affect how the

nerves carry sensory information and motor impulses, which can lead

to tingling, seizures, weakness, lack of coordination, and

inappropriate pain sensations. Examples of chemical neurotoxicants

include organic solvents, heavy metals, organophosphate pesticides,

excitotoxins, mycotoxins, and hundreds of other common chemicals

used daily by most people.

Researchers reviewed central nervous system (CNS) injuries,

including neurotoxic insults, and revealed the outcome of such

insults is largely determined by cellular interactions, inflammatory

mediators, the intensity and duration of the insult, the extent of

both the primary neuronal damage and glial reactivity, and the

developmental stage of the brain.

One would think that neurotoxic insults would cause degeneration of

the brain, however the researchers believe that depending on

particular circumstances, the brain inflammatory response can

promote neuroprotection, regeneration, or neurodegeneration. Once

the inflammatory process begins, glial reactivity is regarded as the

central phenomenon of brain inflammation and has been used as an

early marker of neurotoxicity. The researchers used serum-free

aggregating brain cell cultures to test the effects of conventional

neurotoxicants. They found their approach to help uncover the

complex interactions involved in brain inflammatory responses.

The real question is, should these known neurotoxicants be legally

allowed for use, despite the apparent harm they cause? Many think

chemicals have improved our lives. Those who have been injured by

chemicals and those who suffer neurotoxicity would beg to differ.

The argument that " it will never happen to me " is familiar to many

whom it has happened to. The words were often once said by those

whom it has happened to because no one is immune from neurotoxicity.

These commonly used pesticides, cleaners, vaccine preservatives,

food additives, and molds are everywhere in our environment and our

bodies. There are alternatives and it's time to use them and abandon

dangerous chemicals that damage the central nervous system. Our kids

deserve a fighting chance!

Reference

Monnet-Tschudi F, Zurich MG, Honegger P. Neurotoxicant-induced

inflammatory response in three-dimensional brain cell cultures. Hum

Exp Toxicol. 2007 Apr;26(4):339-46.

About the Author

Lourdes Salvador is a writer and social advocate based in Hawaii.

She is a passionate advocate for the homeless, having worked with

her local governor to open new shelters and provide services to the

homeless in a new approach to end homelessness. That passion soon

turned to advocacy and activism for victims of multiple chemical

sensitivity. Since 2006, she has been the president of MCS America

and a featured monthly writer for MCS America News. She co-founded

MCS Awareness in 2005. She also serves as Partner, Environmental

Education Week and Partner, Collaborative on Health and the

Environment (CHE). For more information about Lourdes and her

advocacy work, please visit: www.mcs-america.org,

www.thetruthaboutmcs.blogspot.com, and www.cafepress.com/mcsamerica.