Plasticisers impair normal brain function in vertebrates
"This is a factor that must be taken into account in future risk assessments of these substances"
Researchers at the University of Bayreuth have discovered that the plasticisers DEHP and DINP have negative effects on normal brain function in vertebrates. These plasticisers are used in products such as PVC, paints, and cosmetics. The researchers reported their findings in the journal Ecotoxicology and Environmental Safety.
For their research, Benedikt Maric, Prof. Dr Stefan Schuster, and Dr Peter Machnik from the Department of Animal Physiology at the University of Bayreuth exposed goldfish to an environmentally relevant concentration of plasticisers for one month. They then investigated the effects of DEHP and DINP on the brain by examining the Mauthner neuron – the largest nerve cell in the hindbrain of fish. The Mauthner neuron is accessible for such measurements and receives input from a variety of sensory systems, making it a suitable model for investigation.
“The way humans come into contact with plasticisers is, of course, different from that of the fish we studied, which swam in water to which plasticisers had been added. Nevertheless, the results of our study are alarming and, with some caution, can also be applied to humans. Basic brain functions, such as how nerve cells process and transmit information, as well as the transmission of information from one nerve cell to another, is comparable in both fish and humans. This is where we observe the effects of plasticiser exposure,” says Dr Peter Machnik.
Measurements taken from the Mauthner neurons of the fish showed that both DEHP and DINP reduced the conduction speed of the nerve cell by 20%. A reduction in conduction speed could negatively affect other nerve cells and impair normal brain function. In addition, the researchers observed various negative impacts on the connections between nerve cells – the synapses – and thus on the transmission of signals from one nerve cell to another. They also found evidence that both plasticisers impair the visual perception of the fish.
“Our study reveals a previously overlooked sensitivity of various important brain functions to phthalates. This is a factor that must be taken into account in future risk assessments of these substances,” says Machnik.
Original publication
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