Dive Brief:
- A common type of disinfectant approved by the federal government accumulates on surfaces and gets into dust and indoor air, increasing the risk of asthma and other conditions, a study finds.
- Some 670 products approved by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency use different types of quaternary ammonium compounds, a group of disinfectants that in some cases can exert a range of toxic effects when they become concentrated, researchers say in a study focused on seniors and staff in an assisted living setting. Effects include immunotoxicity, infertility and developmental toxicity.
- In assisted living, where disinfectants tend to be widely used, the build-up of the compounds could leave seniors and staff with exposure levels that, while remaining within federal standards, could be concerning. “The high reliance on disinfectants and personal care products results in chronic low-level exposure, warranting further investigation into potential long-term health effects,” researchers say in their study, published in Environmental Science & Technology.
Dive Insight:
The compounds are widely used because of their antimicrobial properties, long shelf life and the way they help liquids mix together.
EPA recommended their use during the COVID-19 pandemic, boosting demand for them. “As a result, [they’re] extensively used in various indoor environments, with commercial products often formulated at higher concentrations,” the report says.
To generate their findings, researchers measured the concentrations of the compounds in indoor air, dust and on wristbands worn by seniors and staff.
Dust levels were 3-4 times higher than found in other research and, compared to samples in Europe and China, up to 10 times higher. Higher levels were also found in indoor air and wristband samples.
“Spraying and fogging of products may elevate inhalation exposure, while handling concentrated disinfectant solutions may increase [skin] uptake,” the report said.
More study is needed on the health impacts, but given the increased susceptibility of seniors, the concentrations are something to be aware of, the researchers said. “These populations are more sensitive to the adverse effects of these exposures due to their physiological and developmental characteristics,” they said.
The researchers are from Emory University and Agnes Scott College, in Atlanta, and the University of Georgia in Athens.
