Persistent Organic Pollutants and Neurological Disorders: From Exposure to Preventive Interventions

Abstract

Persistent organic pollutants (POPs) are organic compounds that are nondegradable by chemical, biological, and photolytic processes. Because of their continuous bioaccumulation in the environment, they impart drastic effects on human health. The hazardous effects of POPs are so impactful that a special “Stockholm Convention on POPs” was organized in 2001 to highlight the emerging problem. As an early measure, the convention banned or restricted the production of some 12 pollutants worldwide. Besides the endocrinological, gastroenterological, and dermatological complications, these POPs also exert their harmful effects on the nervous system. Clinical signs of Parkinson’s disease, Alzheimer’s disease, stroke, epileptic seizures, multiple sclerosis, dementia, and attention deficit hyperactive syndrome are observed in POPs exposed people. Moreover, in vitro and in vivo studies reveal that organochloride and organophosphate both can cross the blood–brain barrier and damage the dopaminergic, cholinergic, and serotonergic neurons. Additionally, these pollutants can increase or decrease the levels of neurotransmitters and exert oxidative damage to neuronal cells. Certain POPs can activate neuroinflammatory pathways by disrupting expressional levels of proinflammatory and anti-inflammatory cytokines. Presence of a few selective studies with limitations and lack of conclusive outcomes, the exclusive epidemiological studies focusing on the effect of POPs on neurological disorders are lacking in modern-day literature. There is no antidote available in the treatment of organochloride exposure as yet, however for organophosphate exposure, pralidoxime is used. On chronic exposure of POPs, symptomatic treatment is recommended. Such endeavors should be encouraged that highlight the ways of controlling the exposure of pollutants.