Is Benzalkonium Chloride Safe for Humans?
This Cosmetic Ingredient Is Not a Sensitizer to Normal Humans at Concentrations of 0.1%, but May Be to Individuals with Diseased Skin. It Is Concluded That...
This cosmetic ingredient is not a sensitizer to normal humans at concentrations of 0.1%, but may be to individuals with diseased skin. It is concluded that Benzalkonium Chloride can be safely used as an antimicrobial agent at concentrations up to 0.1%.
Why is Benzalkonium Chloride bad for you?
Benzalkonium chloride is a frequently used preservative in eye drops; typical concentrations range from 0.004 to 0.01%. Higher concentrations can be caustic [7] and can cause irreversible damage to the corneal endothelium [8]. Occupational exposure to BAC has been linked to the development of asthma [9].
Is Benzalkonium Chloride harmful to humans?
Benzalkonium chloride (BAC) is a widely used disinfectant/preservative, and respiratory exposure to this compound has been reported to be highly toxic. Spray‐form household products have been known to contain BAC together with triethylene glycol (TEG) in their solutions.