Recent study by Case Western Reserve University School of Medicinehas suggested that household chemicals may increase the risk of neurological conditions, like autism.
The researchers suggest that some common chemicals, found in personal-care and household products, damage specialised brain cells called oligodendrocytes that generate the myelin sheaths on nerve cells, saying exposure to these chemicals could lead to neurodevelopmental and neurological conditions, such as Autism Spectrum Disorder(ASD), attention deficit disorders and multiple sclerosis.
The study showed that chemicals from two groups hadadverse effects on oligodendrocytes, including organophosphate flame retardants commonly found in electronics and furniture and this inhibited the generation of oligodendrocytes from Oligodendrocyte Progenitor Cells (OPCs), while quaternary ammonium compounds, which are in many personal-care products and disinfectants, killed the cells.
Oligodendrocytes are the myelinating cells of the Central Nervous System (CNS) and its production begins during fetal development, with the majority of its cells being made during the first-two years of life.
With little to no awareness, Autism remains one of the most ignored but high-burden health conditions weighing on families and affecting about one in 100 children worldwide, according to the World Health Organisation (WHO).
Autism, also referred to as Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD), constitutes a diverse group of conditions related to the development of the brain characterised by some degree of difficulty with social interaction and communication.
To commemorate World Autism Day this year, The Guardian engaged some experts with years of experience in handling ASD cases in Nigeria to discuss this condition, which rarely gets the much-needed attention it needs.
A consultant, Child and Adolescent Psychiatrist, Federal Neuropsychiatric Hospital, Yaba, Dr Oluwasi kemi Alalade explained that the exact cause of ASD was still unknown and why some people develop ASD.
She said: “It is a disorder characterised by repetitive behaviour that is restricted to a pattern in terms of actions, play, food, and clothing etc. There are language problems, which result in limited or no speech and poor social interaction and those, who achieve speech may not be able to use it for social communication.
“It is a developmental problem caused by a difference in brain development of these children and the exact cause is unknown, but risk factors include but are not limited to family history, being born to older parents, genetic mutations, birth complications.”
According to another published study, led by researchers from the University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio, titled ‘Assessing Chemical Intolerance in Parents Predicts the Risk of Autism and ADHD in Their Children’. They concluded that ASD and ADHD might be preventable if parents could avoid toxic exposures and adopt interventions such as environmental house calls.
Professor Emeritus, Department of Family and Community Medicine, UT Health San Antonio, Claudia S. Miller pointed out that most of the interventions and researches have been behavioural or medical.
“This is the first-ever article in the medical literature showing that chemical intolerance in parents can predict the risk of autism and ADHD in their children, and suggests that reducing exposures prior to and during pregnancy could help prevention,” she said.
The Chief Assistant Education Officer, Ojuwoye Community Primary Inclusive Unit, Mushin, Omotunde Omolayo, spoke about her experiences teaching children with ASD and the impacts she had witnessed in some families.
She said: “ASD has a great impact on families and has separated so many homes, lack of cooperation from parents has a negative effect on our practice as teachers too.”
Omolayo said the education system especially for ASD children would need improvements in areas such as the employment of more special teachers and caregivers, welfare packages for their teachers.
Despite human rights in place for people living with ASD, autistic people are often subject to stigma and discrimination, including unjust deprivation of health care, education and opportunities to engage and participate in their communities, therefore interventions for people with autism and other developmental disabilities need to be designed and delivered with the participation of people living with these conditions according to experts.
