Many people use strong cleaning products to keep their homes spotless, but some of these common chemicals may harm lung health. New research points to one group of substances as particularly concerning when inhaled.
A study published in the journal Environmental Science & Technology highlights risks from quaternary ammonium compounds, often called QACs. These chemicals are found in many disinfectants and household cleaners.
Researchers already knew that exposure to QACs was linked to a higher risk for asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, or COPD. Since QACs are not easily absorbed through the skin or gut, scientists wanted to see if breathing them in was a main way they entered the body and caused harm.
Study Findings on Inhalation Risks
To test this, a team conducted a study on mice. The mice were exposed to different chemicals, including QACs, and the scientists measured the levels of QACs in the animals’ blood.
The results showed that when mice inhaled QACs at levels that damaged their lungs, the QACs in their blood were similar to amounts found in human blood samples. This suggests inhalation is a key exposure route.
Gino Cortopassi, the lead study author, explained the severity of the finding. “The surprising result of this study was that these compounds, when inhaled, caused 100-fold more lung injury and 100-fold more lethality compared to oral ingestion,” Cortopassi said.
The study indicates that breathing in QACs, especially from aerosol sprays, is far more harmful than swallowing them.
Widespread Use and Safer Alternatives
Despite evidence of harm, QACs remain widely used. The study authors noted that after the FDA banned other disinfectants like triclosan and triclocarban in 2015, the use of QACs increased. This trend continued during the COVID-19 pandemic, and air concentrations of QACs rose during that time.
More than one million pounds of QACs are produced or imported into the United States each year. They are used in many products, including herbicides, eye drop disinfectants, nasal sprays, mouthwashes, and dryer sheets.
Based on the findings, the researchers urge caution with aerosol disinfectant sprays. “We have to question whether we really want to have all of these QAC-based disinfectant sprays in the environment given their proven lung toxicity in mice,” Cortopassi said.
For safer cleaning, consumers can look for products with specific certifications. The Safer Choice label from the Environmental Protection Agency means a product meets certain safety standards. Other labels to look for include Non-GMO Project, B-Corp, and MADE SAFE.
These findings may explain why some people feel respiratory irritation after a day of heavy cleaning. Avoiding QACs, particularly in spray form, may help protect lung health and reduce the risk of asthma and COPD. Effective cleaning does not require harsh chemicals, and many non-toxic alternatives are available.
