title: Exposure to common quaternary ammonium disinfectants decreases fertility in mice.
abstract: 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.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biomedical Sciences and Pathobiology, VA-MD Regional College of Veterinary Medicine, VA Tech, Blacksburg, VA 24061, United States.
authors.forename: Vanessa E
authors.initials: VE
authors.lastname: Melin
authors.affiliation: Department of Biomedical Sciences and Pathobiology, VA-MD Regional College of Veterinary Medicine, VA Tech, Blacksburg, VA 24061, United States.
authors.forename: Haritha
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Potineni
authors.affiliation: School of Molecular Biosciences, Washington State University, Pullman, WA 99164, United States.
authors.forename: Patricia
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Hunt
authors.affiliation: School of Molecular Biosciences, Washington State University, Pullman, WA 99164, United States.
authors.forename: Jodi
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Griswold
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemistry, Washington State University, Pullman, WA 99164, United States.
authors.forename: Bill
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Siems
authors.affiliation: Laboratory for Study Design and Statistical Analysis, VA-MD Regional College of Veterinary Medicine, VA Tech, Blacksburg, VA 24061, United States.
authors.forename: Stephen R
authors.initials: SR
authors.lastname: Werre
authors.affiliation: Department of Biomedical Sciences and Pathobiology, VA-MD Regional College of Veterinary Medicine, VA Tech, Blacksburg, VA 24061, United States; E. Via College of Osteopathic Medicine Virginia Campus, Blacksburg, VA 24060, United States. Electronic address: thrubec@vcom.vt.edu.
authors.forename: Terry C
authors.initials: TC
authors.lastname: Hrubec
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D004202:Disinfectants / Q000633:toxicity*; D005260:Female; D005298:Fertility / Q000187:drug effects*; D051379:Mice; D008810:Mice, Inbred C57BL; D000644:Quaternary Ammonium Compounds / Q000633:toxicity*
chemical_list: D004202:Disinfectants; D000644:Quaternary Ammonium Compounds
keywords: Fecundity; Fertility; Quaternary ammonium compounds; Reproductive toxicity; Toxicology