What are quaternary ammonium compounds or “QUATs”?
Quaternary ammonium compounds or “QUATs” are chemicals that are used in a variety of different personal care products from spermicidal jellies to disinfectants. They are used as conditioning agents to give skin and hair a smooth feel. They make clothes feel softer after being washed so they’re also a common ingredient in fabric softeners [1]. The foodservice industry uses QUATs as a disinfectant.What are quats in?
QUATs can be found in shampoos, toilet cleaners, hand soap, shaving cream, baby wipes, body wash, sunscreens, moisturizers, disinfectant sprays, liquid fabric softeners, anti-cling dryer sheets, disinfectants, and spermicidal jellies [1] [3].How to tell if a product has quats
These are listed as distearyldimonium chloride, variants of hydroxyethyl methyl ammonium methyl sulfate, diethyl ester dimethyl ammonium chloride, and are often noted as “biodegradable fabric softening agents” or “catatonic surfactants” [2].Risks associated with quats
Quats are formaldehyde releasing toxic chemicals that have been associate with multiple health risks [5] including:- Allergies & irritation (skin, eye, lung)
- Contact dermatitis – Studies estimate that between 13% and 34% of contact dermatitis cases may be linked to quats.
- Asthma
- Fertility Issues
- Birth Defects
