Elevated concentrations of quaternary ammonium compounds in childcare centers: A pilot study
Quaternary ammonium compounds (QACs) are used as antimicrobials, preservatives, and antistatic agents in cleaning, disinfecting and personal care products, and textiles. High levels of QACs have been found in indoor dust in residential homes; however, there is limited information on QAC exposure in...
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Elsevier
2025-11-01
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| Series: | Journal of Hazardous Materials Letters |
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| Online Access: | http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2666911024000376 |
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| author | Yao Cheng Zhong Lv Erika Schreder Min Hu Abby Mutic Guomao Zheng Amina Salamova |
| author_facet | Yao Cheng Zhong Lv Erika Schreder Min Hu Abby Mutic Guomao Zheng Amina Salamova |
| author_sort | Yao Cheng |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Quaternary ammonium compounds (QACs) are used as antimicrobials, preservatives, and antistatic agents in cleaning, disinfecting and personal care products, and textiles. High levels of QACs have been found in indoor dust in residential homes; however, there is limited information on QAC exposure in non-residential environments serving sensitive populations, such as childcare centers. In this study, we investigated the occurrence of QACs, including benzylalkyldimethyl ammonium compounds (BACs), dialkyldimethylammonium compounds (DADMACs), and alkyltrimethylammonium compounds (ATMACs), in dust from childcare centers and estimated daily intake of QACs by toddlers in chidlcare via dust ingestion. Nineteen QACs were detected in dust with a median total QAC concentration (ΣQAC) of 150 μg/g. BACs were the most abundant QAC group found at concentrations ranging from 2.67 to 1370 μg/g (median 90.4 μg/g) and constituted 64 % of the ΣQAC concentrations. The QAC levels in dust from childcare centers were significantly higher than concentrations previosly reported in homes. The EDIs for BACs, DADMACs, and ATMACs via dust ingestion calculated based on the 95th percentile concentrations in childcare dust were up to 30 times higher than those for toddlers in residential homes. These findings demonstrate high QAC exposure in childcares, posing significant early-life exposure for toddlers. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-74a40390b514446e8849f1b7d522d84e |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 2666-9110 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-11-01 |
| publisher | Elsevier |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Journal of Hazardous Materials Letters |
| spelling | doaj-art-74a40390b514446e8849f1b7d522d84e2025-01-24T04:45:51ZengElsevierJournal of Hazardous Materials Letters2666-91102025-11-016100138Elevated concentrations of quaternary ammonium compounds in childcare centers: A pilot studyYao Cheng0Zhong Lv1Erika Schreder2Min Hu3Abby Mutic4Guomao Zheng5Amina Salamova6Shenzhen Key Laboratory of Precision Measurement and Early Warning Technology for Urban Environmental Health Risks, School of Environmental Science and Engineering, Southern University of Science and Technology, Shenzhen 518055, ChinaShenzhen Key Laboratory of Precision Measurement and Early Warning Technology for Urban Environmental Health Risks, School of Environmental Science and Engineering, Southern University of Science and Technology, Shenzhen 518055, ChinaToxic-Free Future, Seattle, WA 98103, USAShenzhen Key Laboratory of Precision Measurement and Early Warning Technology for Urban Environmental Health Risks, School of Environmental Science and Engineering, Southern University of Science and Technology, Shenzhen 518055, ChinaNell Hodgson Woodruff School of Nursing, Emory University, Atlanta, GA 30322, USAShenzhen Key Laboratory of Precision Measurement and Early Warning Technology for Urban Environmental Health Risks, School of Environmental Science and Engineering, Southern University of Science and Technology, Shenzhen 518055, China; Correspondence to: No. 1088, Xueyuan Road, Nanshan District, Shenzhen, Guangdong 518055, China.Gangarosa Department of Environmental Health, Rollins School of Public Health, Emory University, Atlanta, GA 30322, USA; Correspondence to: 1518 Clifton Road, NE, Atlanta, GA 30322, USA.Quaternary ammonium compounds (QACs) are used as antimicrobials, preservatives, and antistatic agents in cleaning, disinfecting and personal care products, and textiles. High levels of QACs have been found in indoor dust in residential homes; however, there is limited information on QAC exposure in non-residential environments serving sensitive populations, such as childcare centers. In this study, we investigated the occurrence of QACs, including benzylalkyldimethyl ammonium compounds (BACs), dialkyldimethylammonium compounds (DADMACs), and alkyltrimethylammonium compounds (ATMACs), in dust from childcare centers and estimated daily intake of QACs by toddlers in chidlcare via dust ingestion. Nineteen QACs were detected in dust with a median total QAC concentration (ΣQAC) of 150 μg/g. BACs were the most abundant QAC group found at concentrations ranging from 2.67 to 1370 μg/g (median 90.4 μg/g) and constituted 64 % of the ΣQAC concentrations. The QAC levels in dust from childcare centers were significantly higher than concentrations previosly reported in homes. The EDIs for BACs, DADMACs, and ATMACs via dust ingestion calculated based on the 95th percentile concentrations in childcare dust were up to 30 times higher than those for toddlers in residential homes. These findings demonstrate high QAC exposure in childcares, posing significant early-life exposure for toddlers.http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2666911024000376Quaternary ammonium compounds (QACs)QuatsIndoor environmentDustChildcare centersToddlers |
| spellingShingle | Yao Cheng Zhong Lv Erika Schreder Min Hu Abby Mutic Guomao Zheng Amina Salamova Elevated concentrations of quaternary ammonium compounds in childcare centers: A pilot study Journal of Hazardous Materials Letters Quaternary ammonium compounds (QACs) Quats Indoor environment Dust Childcare centers Toddlers |
| title | Elevated concentrations of quaternary ammonium compounds in childcare centers: A pilot study |
| title_full | Elevated concentrations of quaternary ammonium compounds in childcare centers: A pilot study |
| title_fullStr | Elevated concentrations of quaternary ammonium compounds in childcare centers: A pilot study |
| title_full_unstemmed | Elevated concentrations of quaternary ammonium compounds in childcare centers: A pilot study |
| title_short | Elevated concentrations of quaternary ammonium compounds in childcare centers: A pilot study |
| title_sort | elevated concentrations of quaternary ammonium compounds in childcare centers a pilot study |
| topic | Quaternary ammonium compounds (QACs) Quats Indoor environment Dust Childcare centers Toddlers |
| url | http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2666911024000376 |
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