Quaternary Ammonium Compounds: Usage in Households during COVID-19 Pandemic, Boon, or Bane?

Abstract

Quaternary ammonium compounds (QACs) have been used as disinfectants and as components in various household items since long. The furore and panic created during the COVID-19 pandemic triggered an unprecedented increase in their usage in health-care facilities as well as in households. This narrative attempts to explore the usage of various QACs in households during the pandemic and delve into the increased exposure and consequent health outcomes. A comprehensive literature search was performed on various databases to include the studies conducted on QACs since 2019. Multiple studies reported an increase in the exposure to QACs during the pandemic and this surge was reflected as adverse effects in human beings as well as the environment – cytological aberrations, intoxication, and damage to aquatic life being the main-stays.