Quaternary
ammonium compounds (QACs) are active ingredients in
over 200 disinfectants currently recommended by the U.S. EPA for use
to inactivate the SARS-CoV-2 (COVID-19) virus. The amounts of these
compounds used in household, workplace, and industry settings has
very likely increased, and usage will continue to be elevated given
the scope of the pandemic. QACs have been previously detected in wastewater,
surface waters, and sediments, and effects on antibiotic resistance
have been explored. Thus, it is important to assess potential environmental
and engineering impacts of elevated QAC usage, which may include disruption
of wastewater treatment unit operations, proliferation of antibiotic
resistance, formation of nitrosamine disinfection byproducts, and
impacts on biota in surface waters. The threat caused by COVID-19
is clear, and a reasonable response is elevated use of QACs to mitigate
spread of infection. Exploration of potential effects, environmental
fate, and technologies to minimize environmental releases of QACs,
however, is warranted.
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