Quaternary Ammonium Compound Toxicity

Excerpt

Quaternary ammonium compounds (QACs) are a group of chemicals commonly found in disinfectants, preservatives, and surfactants. QACs are widely used in various industrial, commercial, and household applications and are present in hospital-grade disinfectant sprays and wipes, surgical instrument sterilization compounds, laundry detergents, and standing-water treatments. For more than 50 years, QACs have been studied, used, and considered safe for human use.

QACs contain a positively charged ammonium group connected to at least one hydrophobic hydrocarbon. The most commonly used QACs are alkyldimethylbenzyl ammonium chloride (ADBAC or BAC), cetylpyridinium chloride (CPC), dodecyl-dimethyl ammonium chloride (DDAC), and cocobenzyldimethyl ammonium chloride (BKC).

There has been a surge in using QACs as a disinfectant during the COVID-19 pandemic. Studies conducted before, during, and after the pandemic revealed increased circulating QACs. QACs are effective against numerous microorganisms and have been considered safe for human use and exposure; however, there is rising concern about the potential adverse effects of QACs on human health and the environment.

QACs are environmentally ubiquitous and detectable in various water sources, including wastewater treatment plants, surface water, groundwater, and soil and sediment. The persistence of QACs in the environment is due to their stability and resistance to biodegradation; this may pose a risk to human health. These risks include dermal irritation, respiratory effects, allergic reactions, and reproductive toxicity. In nonhuman mammals, prolonged exposure to QACs leads to endocrine disruption, immune dysfunction, and reproductive toxicity.