Could your fatigue or respiratory problems be caused by the cleaning spray you use?

Sometimes we can trace a new symptom to a new food, routine, or other environmental cause.  However, fatigue is a symptom common to a plethora of conditions, and sometimes it comes on slowly…until you just can’t ignore your lack of energy.  When did it start?  What’s causing it?  Have you been using “quats” for a while?  You might want to look into safer cleaning chemicals.  

Quaternary Ammonium Compounds, called QACs or “Quats”, are everywhere, even so-called “non-toxic” cleaners.  In our article, What non-toxic multipurpose spray cleaners really work?, we discuss why quats are not good for us.  Quats have been studied to induce asthma in cleaning workers, decreased lung function in farmers, and greater immune reactions and decreased fertility in mice, among other effects. They are very persistent and are difficult to remove from surfaces, so it’s important not to use them on food prep surfaces.  Additionally, they cause fatigue because of the way they affect the mitochondria in our cells, even at chronic low-level exposure.  Mitochondria are vital to generating energy for our cells.

In a 2021 study, QAC concentrations were detected in the blood of 80% of the 43 study participants. Blood QACs were associated with increase in proteins that help control inflammation (cytokines), decreased mitochondrial function, and disruption of cholesterol balance.  The participants with highest total QAC levels in their blood had the lowest levels of energy in their mitochondria.  (Altered toxicological endpoints in humans from common quaternary ammonium compound disinfectant exposure)

They’ve been around since the 1940s, but we should be particularly wary of using quats in sprays.  The aerosolized chemicals are very easy to inhale and go deep into the lungs, even into the bloodstream.  A new study found that when mice breathe in QACs doses at levels that harm their lungs, the amount of these chemicals that ends up in their blood is similar to QAC levels found in human blood. Additionally, inhaling the spray is 100 times more toxic than oral ingestion.  This suggests that breathing in these chemicals — such as from spray cleaners — may be one way they enter the human body and cause COPD or asthma. (Common Disinfectant Chemicals Far More Toxic When Inhaled, Study Finds)

If you haven’t already done it, check the labels of your favorite cleaning sprays, and stop using any that have words that end in  “-monium” (especially if they also have “chloride”).  Here are some quats which are popular in cleaners:

• Benzalkonium Chloride (BAC/ADBAC): Very common in antibacterial hand soaps, disinfectant sprays, and wipes.

• Didecyldimethylammonium Chloride (DDAC): Often found in disinfectants and wood preservatives.

• Alkyl Dimethyl Ethylbenzyl Ammonium Chloride: Frequently paired with benzalkonium chloride in household disinfectants.

• Cetrimonium Bromide (CTAB): Often used in shampoo, conditioners, and topical antiseptic creams.

• Benzethonium Chloride: Used in first-aid products, lotions, and sanitizers.

Yes, it’s possible for fatigue to set in quietly and increase over time…just like our use of spray cleaning products has increased in the wake of COVID-19.   Try to investigate all the labels of cleaners and sanitizers you use, especially those for use on the skin (Cetylpyridinium chloride is found commonly in mouthwash and Distearyldimonium chloride is common in fabric softeners).  Check out TotalClean and other non-toxic cleaners found in our article, because if you have the energy to clean, don’t lose it by using the wrong cleaner!

Photo by Isabella Fischer on Unsplash