Exposure to common quaternary ammonium disinfectants decreases fertility in mice

Vanessa E Melin; Haritha Potineni; Patricia Hunt; Jodi Griswold; Bill Siems; Stephen R Werre; Terry C Hrubec

doi:10.1016/j.reprotox.2014.07.071

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Exposure to common quaternary ammonium disinfectants decreases fertility in mice

Journal article

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Exposure to common quaternary ammonium disinfectants decreases fertility in mice

Vanessa E Melin, Haritha Potineni, Patricia Hunt, Jodi Griswold, Bill Siems, Stephen R Werre and Terry C Hrubec

Reproductive toxicology (Elmsford, N.Y.), Vol.50, pp.163-170

12/2014

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.reprotox.2014.07.071

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https://hdl.handle.net/2376/103118

PMCID: PMC4260154

PMID: 25483128

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https://doi.org/10.1016/j.reprotox.2014.07.071View

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Abstract

Toxicology

Quaternary ammonium compounds

Fertility

Fecundity

Reproductive toxicity

•Tested the reproductive toxicity of a common disinfectant used in many commercial and residential products.•Disinfectant contained the active ingredients: alkyl dimethyl benzyl ammonium chloride (ADBAC) and didecyl dimethyl ammonium chloride (DDAC).•Mouse breeding pairs were dosed with ADBAC+DDAC at 0, 60 or 120mg/kg/day in the feed for 6 months.•Long term exposure decreased fertility and fecundity and caused dam mortality in a dose dependent manner.•This study highlights the importance of testing the toxicity of mixtures over individual compounds. Quaternary ammonium compounds (QACs) are antimicrobial disinfectants commonly used in commercial and household settings. Extensive use of QACs results in ubiquitous human exposure, yet reproductive toxicity has not been evaluated. Decreased reproductive performance in laboratory mice coincided with the introduction of a disinfectant containing both alkyl dimethyl benzyl ammonium chloride (ADBAC) and didecyl dimethyl ammonium chloride (DDAC). QACs were detected in caging material over a period of several months following cessation of disinfectant use. Breeding pairs exposed for six months to a QAC disinfectant exhibited decreases in fertility and fecundity: increased time to first litter, longer pregnancy intervals, fewer pups per litter and fewer pregnancies. Significant morbidity in near term dams was also observed. In summary, exposure to a common QAC disinfectant mixture significantly impaired reproductive health in mice. This study illustrates the importance of assessing mixture toxicity of commonly used products whose components have only been evaluated individually.

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Title: Exposure to common quaternary ammonium disinfectants decreases fertility in mice
Creators: Vanessa E Melin - Department of Biomedical Sciences and Pathobiology, VA-MD Regional College of Veterinary Medicine, VA Tech, Blacksburg, VA 24061, United States
Haritha Potineni - Department of Biomedical Sciences and Pathobiology, VA-MD Regional College of Veterinary Medicine, VA Tech, Blacksburg, VA 24061, United States
Patricia Hunt - School of Molecular Biosciences, Washington State University, Pullman, WA 99164, United States
Jodi Griswold - School of Molecular Biosciences, Washington State University, Pullman, WA 99164, United States
Bill Siems - Department of Chemistry, Washington State University, Pullman, WA 99164, United States
Stephen R Werre - Laboratory for Study Design and Statistical Analysis, VA-MD Regional College of Veterinary Medicine, VA Tech, Blacksburg, VA 24061, United States
Terry C Hrubec - Department of Biomedical Sciences and Pathobiology, VA-MD Regional College of Veterinary Medicine, VA Tech, Blacksburg, VA 24061, United States
Publication Details: Reproductive toxicology (Elmsford, N.Y.), Vol.50, pp.163-170
Academic Unit: Molecular Biosciences, School of
Publisher: Elsevier Inc
Identifiers: 99900546668201842
Language: English
Resource Type: Journal article