Chemical Causes (pg 4)
Chemical exposure can cause inflammation and neural sensitization:
Pesticides often over stimulate NMDA. Pesticides such as organophosphates and carbamates over stimulate NMDA. This occurs because they inhibit acetylcholine (a nerve cell messenger), and over stimulate muscarinic nerve receptors, which increase nitric oxide. When muscarinic receptors are too stimulated by pesticides, increased calcium is released within cells. This over stimulates NMDA receptors. As discussed above, NMDA activation increases nitric oxide and can induce neural sensitization.
Pyrethroids slow closing of sodium channels, disturbing cell electrical balance and thus activating NMDA receptors.24
Formaldehyde activates NMDA.2,25 Formaldehyde also stimulates the brain vanilloid receptor.26 This receptor induces sensitization by activating the NMDA receptor,27 and increasing nitric oxide, which then increases peroxynitrite and sets in motion neural sensitization.
Vanilloid stimulation also increases release of immune substance P. Increased substance P is associated with reactive airway disease.29
Petrochemicals (VOC’s, solvents) disrupt energy production in the mitochondria, increase superoxide which increases peroxynitrite.30 This can then increase tissue-damaging free radicals in the brain. Peroxynitrite impairs energy metabolism by attaching proteins in the energy-producing mitochondria.32,33
Carbon monoxide. Carbon monoxide is released in all combustion: coal, gas, gasoline/diesel, wood, tobacco, and even natural products (beeswax and other candles) and “aromatherapy” (a medical oxymoron). Exposure to carbon monoxide can increase nitric oxide and cause excess NMDA activity.34,35
Irritants. Petrochemicals and many other chemicals are irritants.35 Irritant exposure can cause inflammation. Inflammation of sufficient duration can lead to chronic inflammation. Inflammation results in further elevated nitric oxide and damaging free radicals.
Inhaled particles cause inflammation and increase nitric oxide.2,37
Bibliography: Neural Sensitization: The Key to Medical Treatment
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