A Short Overview of Benzalkonium Chloride in Pharmaceutical Sector: Safety, Environmental Impact and Alternatives

03 July 2024, Version 2
This content is a preprint and has not undergone peer review at the time of posting.

Abstract

This paper provides an overview of the environmental and safety concerns associated with benzalkonium chloride (BAC), a chemical widely used in pharmaceuticals. The review covers BAC’s various applications, toxicity, and environmental considerations. It explores the industrial processing of BAC, its role as a preservative in drug formulations, and the negative consequences linked to its usage. Furthermore, the review highlights the potential allergic reactions following the initial application of BAC. The study also refers to the various concentrations of BAC employed in different formulations and their administration for safety purposes. Additionally, initiatives to use alternatives to BAC in order to mitigate the potential side effects are explored.

Keywords

Benzalkonium chloride (BAC)
disinfectants
antimicrobial preservatives
toxicity
environmental impacts
alternative substances

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