ECJ EUROPEAN Cleaning Journal

Breathing in widely-used disinfectant cleaning chemicals may be significantly more lethal than drinking them, according to new research.

The University of California study found that inhaling quaternary ammonium compounds - which are common ingredients in cleaning products - caused far greater lung damage in mice than ingesting the same substances.

QACs have been widely used as disinfectants since the 1940s and are found in products such as surface sprays, fabric softeners and some personal care items. Although the chemicals are not highly volatile, they can become airborne when used in sprays which makes inhalation a likely route of exposure.

The study revealed that when inhaled, quaternary ammonium compounds caused 100-fold more lung injury and 100-fold more lethality in mice compared with oral ingestion.

The findings raise concerns about whether regular use of disinfectant sprays could contribute to respiratory conditions such as asthma or chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. While the study was conducted in mice, researchers say the results highlight a potential risk that warrants further investigation in humans.

"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," said lead author Gino Cortopassi. "The findings should prompt closer scrutiny of how these products are used."

Previous research by the same team found that QACs are already present in most people. In a 2021 study, around 80 per cent of participants had detectable levels of the chemicals in their blood. Those with higher levels showed reduced mitochondrial activity in immune cells, suggesting a possible impact on the body's ability to produce energy.