| Agent Name |
Benzalkonium chloride |
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| CAS Number |
8001-54-5 |
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| Major Category |
Other Chemicals |
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| Synonyms |
Alkyl dimethylbenzyl ammonium chloride; Alkylbenzyldimethylammonium chloride; Alkyldimethyl(phenylmethyl)quaternary ammonium chlorides; Alkyldimethylbenzylammonium chloride; Ammonium, alkyldimethylbenzyl-, chloride; Ammonyx; Arquad B 100; Arquad dmmcb-75; BTC 100; BTC 2565; BTC 471; BTC 50; BTC 50 USP; BTC 65; BTC 65 USP; BTC 824; BTC 8248; BTC 8249; BTC E-8358; Barquat MB-50; Barquat MB-80; Bayclean; Benirol; Benzalconio cloruro [DCIT]; Benzalkonii chloridum [INN-Latin]; Benzalkonium A; Benzalkonium chloride; Bio-quat 50-24; Bio-quat 50-25; Bio-quat 50-30; Bio-quat 50-40; Bio-quat 50-42; Bio-quat 50-60; Bio-quat 50-65; Bio-quat 80-24; Bio-quat 80-28; Bio-quat 80-40; Bio-quat 80-42; Bionol; Capitol; Cequartyl; Chlorure de benzalkonium [INN-French]; Cloruro de benzalconio [INN-Spanish]; Culversan LC 80; Desitin Dabaways; Desitin Skin Care Lotions; Dimanin A; Disinall; Dodigen 226; Drapolene; Drapolex; Drest; E-Pilo Ophthalmic Solution; Enuclen; Epifrin Ophthalmic Solution; Gardiquart SV480; Gardiquat 1450; Genamin KDS; Germ-I-tol; Germicin; Germinol; Germitol; Hyamine 3500; Intexan LB-50; Kemamine BAC; Leda benzalkonium chloride; Mefarol; Murine For The Eyes; Muro Tears Ophthalmic Solution; Muro's Opcon A Ophthalmic Solution; Muro's Opcon Ophthalmic Solution; Murocoll-19 Opthalmic Solution; Murocoll-2 Ophthalmic Solution; Neo Germ-I-tol; Onyx BTC (Onyx oil & chem Co); Osvan; Paralkan; Pheneene germicidal solution & tincture; Pheneene germicidal solution and tincture; Quaternary ammonium compounds, alkylbenzyldimethyl, chlorides; Quaternium-1; Romergal CB; Triton K-60; Vikrol RQ; Visalens Soaking/Cleaning Solutions; Visalens Wetting Solution; Visine AC; Zephiral; Zephiran; Zephiran chloride; [ChemIDplus] |
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| Category |
Preservatives/Disinfectants |
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| Description |
White or yellowish-white, amorphous powder or gelatinous pieces; [HSDB] |
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| Sources/Uses |
Used to preserve cosmetics, mouthwashes, and skin cleansers and to cold sterilize medical and dental instruments; also used in agricultural, textile, and metallurgical processes; [Marks, p. 265-267] |
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| Comments |
Sensitization is uncommon. Irritant responses may be seen at the concentrations used for patch testing (0.1%). Health care workers may develop contact dermatitis after handling cold sterilized instruments. [Marks, p. 265-267] It causes irritant (not allergic) contact dermatitis; [Kanerva, p. 1130] Benzalkonium chloride is a rare skin sensitizer. Other quaternary ammonium compounds with rare or uncommon reports of sensitization include benzoxonium chloride (19379-90-9), cetyl-pyridinium chloride (123-03-5), cetalkonium chloride (122-18-9), cetrimonium bromide (57-09-0), dequalinium chloride (522-51-0), domiphen bromide (538-71-6, and didecyldimethylammonium chloride (7173-51-5); [Kanerva, p. 465 and 1144] This surface-active, cationic detergent can have caustic effects on the GI tract if ingested. A lethal dose by ingestion of 100-400 mg/kg has been reported. [Olson, p. 181] |
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| Reference Link |
Quaternary ammonium compounds and occupational asthma |
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| Exposure Assessment |
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| Skin Designation (ACGIH) |
Not evaluated |
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| Adverse Effects |
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| Asthma |
Yes |
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| Skin Sensitizer |
Yes |
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| Links to Other NLM Databases |
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| Health Studies |
Human Health Effects from Hazardous Substances Data Bank: BENZALKONIUM CHLORIDE
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