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Gateway on Pesticide Hazards and Safe Pest Management
Alkyl dimethyl benzyl ammonium chloride (ADBAC)
(Benzalkonium chloride, Dimethylcocobenzalkonium chloride, Quaternary ammonium compounds (24))
General Information
- Product Names:
- Chemical Class: Quaternary amines/Antimicrobial
- Uses: General use for wood treatment, carpets, textiles, indoor/outdoor hard surfaces, shoes, residential and agricultural premise and equipment, aquatic areas, food handling/storage including eggs, medical instruments, commercial/industrial processes and water systems. ADBAC is also applied to nursery ornamentals and turf, and is used for mosquito control in ponds and puddles.
- Beyond Pesticides rating: Toxic
Health and Environmental Effects
- Cancer: Not documented
- Endocrine Disruption: Not documented
- Reproductive Effects: Not documented
- Neurotoxicity: Not documented
- Kidney/Liver Damage: Not documented
- Sensitizer/ Irritant: Yes: skin, respiratory (8)
- Birth/Developmental: Not documented
- Detected in Groundwater: Not documented
- Potential Leacher: Not documented
- Toxic to Birds: Yes (8)
- Toxic to Fish/Aquatic Organisms: Yes (8)
- Toxic to Bees: Not documented
Residential Uses as Found in the ManageSafe™ Database
Additional Information
- Regulatory Status:
- Supporting information:
- Studies:
- Benzalkonium chloride induced bronchoconstriction in patients with stable bronchial asthma. [Lee BH, Kim SH. 2007. Korean J Intern Med. 22(4):244-8.]
- Quaternary ammonium compounds and occupational asthma. [Purohit A, Kopferschmitt-Kubler MC, et al. 2000. Int Arch Occup Environ Health. 273(6):423-7.]
- Occupational asthma due to indirect exposure to lauryl dimethyl benzyl ammonium chloride used in a floor cleaner. [Burge PS and Richardson MN. 1994. Thorax. 49(8):842-3.]
