Findings published in Nature Neuroscience journal show two classes of chemicals may be linked to damaging brain cells that provide the protective coating around nerve cells. The types of chemicals we're talking about are everywhere — organophosphate flame retardants found in your furniture and electronics or the quaternary ammonium compounds (quats) found in disinfecting cleaning supplies, personal hair products, and some mouthwash. These are the cells that are destroyed in multiple sclerosis.