Paired Household Dust & Clinical Samples Indicate Relationship Between Benzalkonium Chloride Disinfectant Use and Biological & Environmental Persistence

Shelby J. Tillema, Mary J. Akel, Leena B. Mithal, Estefania Espinosa, Francis Kincaid, Abigail Aron, Tonia N. Branche, Stephanie A. Fisher, Erica M. Hartmann*

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceedingConference contribution

Abstract

Benzalkonium chloride is a persistent emerging contaminant with negative health impacts that is widely found in consumer disinfectants. This study investigates the relationship between paired household dust, clinical samples, and the disinfecting products and regimens used in households. Household dust samples and clinical plasma and urine samples were collected from participants of a cohort study, and High-Performance Liquid Chromatography - Mass Spectrometry was used to quantify BAC of chain lengths C12-16. This study found BAC in household dust, plasma, and urine, as well as collecting survey data describing the use of BAC disinfectants in the household. This study is the first to examine paired samples of BAC to understand its fate and transport in the indoor environment and its bioaccumulative potential.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Title of host publication18th Conference of the International Society of Indoor Air Quality and Climate, INDOOR AIR 2024 - Conference Program and Proceedings
PublisherInternational Society of Indoor Air Quality and Climate
ISBN (Electronic)9798331306816
StatePublished - 2024
Event18th International Conference on Indoor Air Quality and Climate, INDOOR AIR 2024 - Honolulu, United States
Duration: Jul 7 2024Jul 11 2024

Publication series

Name18th Conference of the International Society of Indoor Air Quality and Climate, INDOOR AIR 2024 - Conference Program and Proceedings

Conference

Conference18th International Conference on Indoor Air Quality and Climate, INDOOR AIR 2024
Country/TerritoryUnited States
CityHonolulu
Period7/7/247/11/24

Funding

This study is funded by the Founders\u2019 Board of Lurie Children\u2019s Hospital. This material is based upon work supported by the National Science Foundation Graduate Research Fellowship under Grant No. DGE-2234667. Any opinion, findings, and conclusions or recommendations expressed in this material are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the views of the National Science Foundation. This work made use of the IMSERC at Northwestern University, which has received support from the Soft and Hybrid Nanotechnology Experimental (SHyNE) Resource (NSF ECCS-1542205), the State of Illinois, and the International Institute for Nanotechnology (IIN).

Keywords

  • Consumer Disinfectants
  • Exposure Assessment
  • Quaternary Ammonium Compounds

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Pollution

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