Abstract
Staying safe during the COVID-19 pandemic
requires frequent disinfecting of the indoor environment. Quaternary ammonium
compounds (QACs or “quats”) are the major class of chemicals widely used as disinfectants
in consumer products. While disinfection is necessary for a safe environment
during the pandemic, the increased use of QACs is concerning as exposure to
these compounds has been associated with adverse effects on reproductive and
respiratory systems. We have determined the occurrence and distribution of 19
QACs in 46 residential dust collected before and during the outbreak of
COVID-19. All QACs were detected in more than 90% of the samples at concentrations
ranging from 1.95 to 531 μg/g (median 58.9 μg/g). Higher QAC concentrations
were found in dust collected before the COVID-19 pandemic and in homes with higher
disinfecting frequencies (p < 0.05). In addition, 7 products most
frequently used in these homes were analyzed, and QACs were detected at
concentrations reaching up to 16,600 mg/L.
The QAC profiles in dust and in products were similar, suggesting that these
products can be a significant source of QACs. Our findings indicate that the
indoor exposure to QACs is widespread, raising concerns about increased
exposure to these chemicals during the ongoing pandemic.