Re: quaternary ammonium compounds

[Guest guest]

and Aurora,

Although quaternary ammonium compounds (known as " quats " ) are widely used as

disinfectants, they can cause sensitization (see two examples below, but check

PubMed for more).

In addition, quats are the main ingredient in many fabric softener sheets.

I would not suggest a broadcast application of quats to wood.

Borates (such as sodium octaborate) are a much safer alternative to inhibit mold

growth.

May

May Indoor Air Investigations LLC

Cambridge, MA

www.mayindoorair.com

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1: Eur J Dermatol. 2001 May-Jun;11(3):240-3.

Occupational allergic contact dermatitis from alkylammonium amidobenzoate.

Kanerva L, Estlander T, Jolanki R.

Section of Dermatology, Finnish Institute of Occupational Health,

Topeliuksenkatu 41 aA, FIN-00250 Helsinki, Finland. Lasse.Kanerva@...

Quaternary ammonium compounds are water-soluble antimicrobials which are widely

used in disinfectants, sterilizers, skin cleansers and antiseptic creams. One

quaternary ammonium compound, alkylammonium amidobenzoate (Osmaron has for

decades been used in udder ointments. Here we present a ship technician with

occupationally induced sensitization to alkylammonium amidobenzoate. The

diagnosis was reached only when it emerged, after careful questioning, that the

patient was exposed to a substance peculiar to his workplace but not to his

occupation and was then patch tested for it. It turned out that an udder

ointment had been used at the patient's workplace as a hand ointment. Patch

testing was positive to the patient's hand ointment, and Osmaron B at 0.1-0.01%

in petrolatum. Other sensitizing quaternary ammonium compounds, namely

benzalkonium chloride, benzethonium chloride, benzoxonium chloride,

N-benzyl-N,N-dihydroxyethyl-N-cocosalkyl-ammonium chloride, cetalkonium

chloride, cetylpyridinium chloride, cetrimonium bromide, chloroallylhexaminium

chloride, dequalinium chloride, domiphen bromide, methylbenzethonium chloride

and 2,3-epoxypropyl trimethyl ammonium chloride are reviewed briefly. The

importance of patch testing to all materials in use by the patient is

emphasized. It is also important to select non-allergenic hand creams for use at

work places.

Publication Types:

Case Reports

PMID: 11358732 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]

2: Eur Respir J. 1996 Jul;9(7):1407-13.

Disinfectant use as a risk factor for atopic sensitization and symptoms

consistent with asthma: an epidemiological study.

Preller L, Doekes G, Heederik D, Vermeulen R, Vogelzang PF, Boleij JS.

Dept. of Epidemiology and Public Health, Wageningen Agricultural University, The

Netherlands.

Exposure to some nonallergenic compounds has been shown to increase the risk of

atopic sensitization and asthmatic symptoms. In order to gain more insight into

the largely unknown aetiology of respiratory symptoms in pig farmers, we studied

the role of nonallergic exposure. We evaluated associations between chronic

respiratory symptoms, specific and total serum immunoglobulin E (IgE) levels,

use of disinfectants, and endotoxin exposure levels in a population of 194 Dutch

pig farmers. Atopic sensitization (defined as increased production of IgE to

common allergens) was found to occur more frequently in farmers who used

disinfectants containing quaternary ammonium compounds (QACs) (odds ratio (OR)

7.4; 95% confidence interval (95% CI) 1.3-43.1). ORs for other disinfectants

ranged 2.3-4.1 (NS). Atopic sensitization was not found to occur more frequently

in farmers with a high endotoxin exposure. The use of disinfectants was only

related to respiratory symptoms consistent with asthma in atopics. This is

illustrated by the significantly elevated ORs for farmers with IgE to common

allergens (house dust mite, grass pollen, birch pollen), and who used

disinfectants containing QACs, in the total population and in a subgroup of the

total population restricted according to bronchial hyperresponsiveness to

histamine (symptomatics with a provocation dose of histamine producing a > or =

10% decrease in forced expiratory volume in one second (PC10) < or = 16 mg.mL-1,

compared with asymptomatics with a PC10 > 16 mg.mL-1) (OR 4.4, 95% CI 1.3-14.6;

and OR 8.2, 95% CI 1.6-42.6, respectively). Atopy and use of QACs and endotoxin

exposure level taken individually were not associated with respiratory symptoms.

A combination of atopic sensitization and high endotoxin exposure (> 101 ng.m-3)

was strongly associated with respiratory symptoms in the restricted population

(OR 6.1; 95% CI 1.0-36.2). Our results suggest that occupational exposure to

nonallergenic agents (disinfectants) may induce immunoglobulin E sensitization

to common aeroallergens, and that the combination of atopy and exposure to

nonallergenic agents (disinfectants and endotoxin) is an important risk factor

for development of symptoms consistent with asthma.

>Date: Mon, 15 Aug 2005 13:09:20 -0000

>From: " carondeen " <kdeanstudios@...>

>I am using it to keep mold at bay while building my new house- I mean

>someone else is actually using it, spraying on all exposed timber

>after a rain. I would think if you used it inside and are MCS, it

>would make you very sick, plus are the people applying it scrubbing

>off the mold? plus so many spores are being released, and possibly

>mycotoxins as the mold dies that I would think you should not be there

>untill everything is totally cleaned several times, and hepa filtered-

>when applying indoors, they should have corrdoned off the area with

>plastic and had an exhaust fan running to take spores outside. Your

>Workerers will think you are nuts, but it is better than being sick.

>

> Hi folks-- Anyone have any experience with quarternary ammonium

> chloride [shockwave is one form of it]? It was applied to studs in

> my kitchen to kill mold, but is irritating my lungs, eyes, skin, and

> giving me a headache. Aurora

> --

> Aurora Levins Morales, Ph. D.

> 2425 California Street. #6

> Berkeley, CA 94703

> 510-540-1262

> 510-717-3189 cell

> 510-540-0165 fax

> aurora@h...

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