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Use of household chemicals can lead to birth defects
Last reviewed: 02.07.2025
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Experts from the Edward Via Osteopathic Medical School, together with representatives from Virginia Tech, came to an unpleasant conclusion.
They found that quaternary ammonium compounds, present in varying amounts in household chemicals, can trigger the development of birth defects.
Experiments have already been conducted on rodents: unfortunately, the information was confirmed.
These types of substances act as preservatives or disinfectants. They can be found in detergents, shampoos, styling products, and even ophthalmic preparations. In small quantities, the substances are considered harmless.
Scientists paid special attention to such compounds as benzalkonium chloride and didecyldimethylammonium chloride. Such substances are most often included in the composition of most household products. They usually act as a disinfectant and antistatic agent.
It was found that the effect of the listed substances on pregnant female rodents was extremely negative: later, offspring with neural tube anomalies were born. Such disorders can be compared to insufficient development or absence of large cerebral hemispheres in humans.
"The use of quaternary ammonium compounds in rodents has resulted in horrific developmental abnormalities in the newborn offspring. What is particularly distressing is that these substances have been shown to be equally dangerous to both males and females," said Dr. Terry Hrubek, an anatomy professor in the Department of Biological and Medical Sciences and Pathological Biology.
The researchers also noted that it was not necessary to use large doses of ammonium compounds for their dangerous properties to manifest. Teratogenic effects were observed even when rodent cages were simply cleaned using the chemicals listed above.
However, the most negative information was still to come. It turned out that the risk of anomalies was present even in the next generation of rodents: thus, two generations were already at risk.
Earlier, the same scientists found that ammonium-based cleaning products lead to a decrease in reproductive function, reduce the number of sperm in semen, and also block ovulation in rodents. By the way, all of the listed consequences are the most frequently recorded causes of infertility, typical for humans. Coincidence? Hardly.
"We are often asked this question: can we think that the results obtained in rodents are also suitable for humans? We answer unequivocally: yes. The substances we study disrupt the processes that occur in the mechanism of embryo development in all mammals. Among scientists, rodents are considered the prototype of the human organism," explains the doctor.
These ammonium compounds have been used in the chemical industry since the 1950s. At that time, there was no question of conducting toxicological studies. Now, such studies are initiated by the Environmental Protection Agency.