Benzalkonium Chlorides (BAC)

CAS Number: 68424-85-1

SERIOUS
health hazard

MODERATE
health hazard

FEW OR NO
health hazards

0 79

80 89

90 100

Sources of exposure:

personal care

Cleaning products and household care

Disinfectants in residential, industrial, agricultural and clinical settings

Description:

Benzalkonium chlorides are quaternary ammonium antimicrobial compounds used to control bacteria, fungi, and viruses in personal care, cleaning, and disinfectant products. They are a subgroup of quaternary ammonium compounds (QACs), a chemical class of emerging concern for human and environmental health.

Health concerns:

Irritant

May cause skin, eye, or respiratory irritation.

Ecotoxicity

May be toxic to ecosystems and wildlife.

Banned/restricted lists:

European Commission Annex III restrictions. Government of Canada. List of Ingredients that are Restricted for Use in Cosmetic Products.

References

HOW MILLION MARKER SCORES CHEMICALS

Million Marker's Ingredient Hazard Scoring uses multiple chemical databases and a science-backed scoring system to compute hazard scores for thousands of chemicals found in consumer products and listed on ingredient labels.

We identified key chemicals based on a database compiling dozens of authoritative sources, screening tools, and QSAR models.

Hazard scores within 11 different health categories (carcinogens, endocrine disruptors, reproductive toxicants, developmental toxicants, genotoxicity, neurotoxicity, organ system toxicity, immunotoxicity, respiratory toxicity, skin/eye/respiratory irritants, and ecotoxicity).

They are weighted based on several factors, including strength of evidence for adverse impacts in humans, severity, and potential contamination.