Use of antibacterial consumer products containing quaternary ammonium compounds and drug resistance in the community

ABSTRACT SugE of Escherichia coli, first identified as a suppressor of groEL mutations but a member of the small multidrug resistance family, has not previously been shown to confer a drug resistance phenotype. We show that high-level expression of sugE leads to resistance to a subset of toxic quaternary ammonium compounds.

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Indoor Exposure to Commonly Used Disinfectants During the COVID-19 Pandemic

10.26434/chemrxiv.12567746 ◽

2020 ◽

Author(s):

Guomao Zheng ◽

Gabriel Filippelli ◽

Amina Salamova

Keyword(s):

Adverse Effects ◽

Quaternary Ammonium ◽

Indoor Environment ◽

Quaternary Ammonium Compounds ◽

Consumer Products ◽

Significant Source ◽

Indoor Exposure ◽

Safe Environment ◽

Major Class ◽

Ammonium Compounds

Staying safe during <a></a><a>the COVID-19 pandemic</a> 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 (<i>p </i>< 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.

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Indoor Exposure to Commonly Used Disinfectants During the COVID-19 Pandemic

10.26434/chemrxiv.12567746.v1 ◽

2020 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Guomao Zheng ◽

Gabriel Filippelli ◽

Amina Salamova

Keyword(s):

Adverse Effects ◽

Quaternary Ammonium ◽

Indoor Environment ◽

Quaternary Ammonium Compounds ◽

Consumer Products ◽

Significant Source ◽

Indoor Exposure ◽

Safe Environment ◽

Major Class ◽

Ammonium Compounds

Staying safe during <a></a><a>the COVID-19 pandemic</a> 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 (<i>p </i>< 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.

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Determination of quaternary ammonium compounds in food products by the method of ultra-performance liquid chromatography/high resolution mass-spectrometry

Industrial laboratory Diagnostics of materials ◽

10.26896/1028-6861-2020-86-8-23-31 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 86 (8) ◽

pp. 23-31

Author(s):

V. G. Amelin ◽

D. S. Bolshakov

Keyword(s):

Mass Spectrometry ◽

High Resolution ◽

Quaternary Ammonium ◽

High Resolution Mass Spectrometry ◽

Food Products ◽

Quaternary Ammonium Compounds ◽

High Resolution Mass ◽

Ammonium Compounds ◽

Resolution Mass

The goal of the study is developing a methodology for determination of the residual amounts of quaternary ammonium compounds (QAC) in food products by UHPLC/high-resolution mass spectrometry after water-acetonitrile extraction of the determined components from the analyzed samples. The identification and determination of QAC was carried out on an «UltiMate 3000» ultra-high-performance liquid chromatograph (Thermo Scientific, USA) equipped with a «maXis 4G» high-resolution quadrupole-time-of-flight mass spectrometric detector and an ion spray «ionBooster» source (Bruker Daltonics, Germany). Samples of milk, cheese (upper cortical layer), dumplings, pork, chicken skin and ground beef were used as working samples. Optimal conditions are specified for chromatographic separation of the mixture of five QAC, two of them being a mixture of homologues with a linear structure (including isomeric forms). The identification of QAC is carried out by the retention time, exact mass of the ions, and coincidence of the mSigma isotopic distribution. The limits for QAC detection are 0.1 – 0.5 ng/ml, the determination limits are 1 ng/ml for aqueous standard solutions. The determinable content of QAC in food products ranges within 1 – 100 ng/g. The results of analysis revealed the residual amount of QAC present in all samples, which confirms data of numerous sources of information about active use of QAC-based disinfectants in the meat and dairy industry. The correctness of the obtained results is verified by introduction of the additives in food products at a level of 10 ng/g for each QAC. The relative standard deviation of the analysis results does not exceed 0.18. The duration of the analysis is 30 – 40 min.

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