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Household ingredient · Disinfectant

Quaternary ammonium disinfectants (ADBAC, DDAC)

Disinfecting quats in sprays and wipes. A 2023 review flags skin, respiratory and antimicrobial-resistance questions; the evidence is still emerging.

  • Antimicrobial agent
  • Quaternary ammonium compound
  • Expert review pending
Moderate concern Level 2 of 4 How concern levels work

Strong evidence of harm at high intake, emerging evidence of harm, or a common allergen or irritant. The concern level sets how many points quaternary ammonium disinfectants (ADBAC, DDAC) costs on a product’s receipt.

What the evidence says

  • Antimicrobial resistance (emerging)Emerging evidence

    A 2023 critical review describes quaternary ammonium compounds as a class of emerging concern, including a demonstrated role in antimicrobial resistance. [1]

  • Skin or eye irritantEmerging evidence

    The same review lists dermal and respiratory effects among suspected or known health outcomes. [1]

  • Harmful to aquatic lifeEmerging evidence

    The review reports acute and chronic effects on susceptible aquatic organisms. [1]

Evidence tiers say how sure the evidence is, separately from how much it matters. About evidence tiers.

Rules around the world

WhereStatusDetailsDateSource
European Union Permitted Detergents must list disinfectants whatever their concentration (Annex VII A). — [2]

“Banned” means explicitly prohibited or withdrawn after review; “not permitted” means never authorized there. We use each regulator’s own words.

Names GoodSwap recognizes on labels (29)
  • ddac
  • quat
  • adbac
  • quats
  • disinfectant
  • disinfectants
  • quaternary ammonium
  • cationic surfactants
  • benzalkonium chloride
  • benzethonium chloride
  • 5 cationic surfactants
  • quaternary ammonium chloride
  • quaternary ammonium compounds
  • didecyldimethylammonium chloride
  • cetrimonium chloride disinfectant
  • dialkyl dimethyl ammonium chloride
  • didecyl dimethyl ammonium chloride
  • dioctyl dimethyl ammonium chloride
  • octyl decyl dimethyl ammonium chloride
  • alkyl dimethyl benzyl ammonium chloride
  • n alkyl dimethyl benzyl ammonium chloride
  • alkyl dimethyl benzyl ammonium saccharinate
  • alkyl dimethyl ethylbenzyl ammonium chloride
  • quaternary ammonium disinfectants adbac ddac
  • alkyl c12 16 dimethyl benzyl ammonium chloride
  • alkyl c12 18 dimethyl benzyl ammonium chloride
  • n alkyl dimethyl ethylbenzyl ammonium chloride
  • c12 14 alkyl dimethyl ethylbenzyl ammonium chloride
  • alkyl c14 50 c12 40 c16 10 dimethyl benzyl ammonium chloride

Sources

  1. Quaternary Ammonium Compounds: A Chemical Class of Emerging Concern

    Environmental Science & Technology · May 23, 2023 · Peer-reviewed

    “Suspected or known adverse health outcomes include dermal and respiratory effects, developmental and reproductive toxicity, disruption of metabolic function such as lipid homeostasis, and impairment of mitochondrial function.”

    doi.org

  2. Regulation (EC) No 648/2004 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 31 March 2004 on detergents

    European Union (Official Journal) · Mar 31, 2004 · Law

    “The following classes of constituent, if added, shall be listed irrespective of their concentration: - enzymes, - disinfectants, - optical brighteners, - perfumes.”

    eur-lex.europa.eu