Common Household Chemicals Linked to Increased Risk of Serious Neurological Diseases

A study from Uppsala University in Sweden discovered a link between microplastics and multiple sclerosis (MS).

The research, published in the journal Environmental International, found that exposure to two common environmental pollutants, PFAS and PNews, could increase the risk of autoimmune disease.

PFAS, or perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances, known as “permanent chemicals,” are used in some common household products, such as nonstick cookware, textiles, and cleaning products. They have also been found in drinking water throughout the United States, according to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.

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PNews, or polychlorinated biphenyls, are toxic industrial chemicals that were once widely used in electrical equipment before being banned decades ago, as stated by the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences.

The new study’s findings were based on blood samples from 1,800 Swedish individuals, including about 900 who had recently been diagnosed with MS, according to a university news release.

The first phase of the trial studied 14 different PFAS contaminants and three substances that appear when PNews break down in the body. They were then investigated for a link with the odds of diagnosis.

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“We saw that several individual substances, such as PFOS and two hydroxylated PNews, were associated with increased odds of MS,” the study’s lead author, Kim Kultima, said in a statement. “People with the highest concentrations of PFOS and PNews were approximately twice as likely to be diagnosed with MS, compared to those with the lowest concentrations.”

The researchers then examined the combined effects of these substances and found that the mixture was also linked to increased risk.

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Researcher Aina Vaivade said risk assessments should consider mixtures of chemicals, not just individual exposures, because people are often exposed to multiple substances at the same time.

The final phase of the study investigated the relationship between heredity, chemical exposure, and the odds of an MS diagnosis, revealing that those who carry a certain genetic variant actually have a reduced risk of MS.

However, people who carried the gene and had greater exposure to PFOS — a unique type of chemical in the PFAS family — had an “unexpected” increased risk of MS.

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“This indicates that there is a complex interaction between heredity and environmental exposure related to the odds of developing MS,” Kultima said.

“Therefore, we believe it is important to understand how environmental pollutants interact with hereditary factors, as this may provide new insights into the genesis of MS and could also be relevant to other diseases.”

News Senior Medical Analyst Dr. Marc Siegel discussed these findings in an interview with News Digital.

“MS is a complex disease that is in some ways autoimmune and in some ways post-inflammatory,” said Siegel, who was not involved in the study. “Epstein-Barr virus infection greatly increases the risk of MS.”

“There are many reasons to believe that environmental triggers play a role, including microplastics, and this important study shows correlation, but not causation – in other words, it does not prove that microplastics caused MS.”

“There is every reason to believe that environmental triggers play a role.”

Dr. Richard Ransohoff, a leader in the field of MS treatment and research and a member of the board of directors of the American Brain Foundation, based in Minneapolis, Minnesota, reflected on the correlation between MS and chemical exposure.

“[These chemicals] They are classified as endocrine disruptors,” he said. “The same types of receptors that govern the endocrine system also affect immune function. “Therefore, these substances could affect immune function and promote the risk of developing MS.”

Limitations of the study

The researchers acknowledged that the study had some limitations, including the fact that chemical exposure was measured only once, at the time of blood sampling. This means that it may not accurately represent participants’ past or long-term exposure levels relevant to the development of MS.

Ransohoff also highlighted some limitations, including having blood drawn at the time of MS diagnosis and the participants’ average age of 40, which is “relatively old” to learn about the disease.

“For the conclusions to be much more validated, it would be necessary to identify individuals at risk for MS, due to their family history of the disease, and follow them for years, after assessing levels of PNews and OH-PFAS, to determine whether higher levels of individual chemicals predict the likelihood of a person having an MS diagnosis,” he added.

To limit the risk of MS, Ransohoff emphasized the importance of not smoking tobacco and working long-term to limit overall exposure to PNews and PFAS.

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News Digital reached out to several industry groups and manufacturers for comment on the possible link between PFAS chemicals and multiple sclerosis.

Several have issued public statements, including the American Chemistry Council, which states on its website that “manufacturers and many users of today’s PFAS are implementing a variety of practices and technologies to help minimize environmental emissions.”

In April 2024, the EPA promulgated a new federal rule that establishes mandatory limits for certain PFAS chemicals in drinking water, with the goal of reducing exposure. The agency also aims to fund testing and treatment efforts.

According to the Mayo Clinic, multiple sclerosis is a disease that causes the protective coverings surrounding nerve fibers to break down.

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The immune system’s attack on these nerve sheaths can cause numbness, weakness, difficulty walking and moving, vision changes, and other symptoms, and can lead to permanent damage.

There is currently no cure for MS, Mayo Clinic reports, but treatment is available to control symptoms and modify the course of the disease.