Common Antiseptic Ingredients Disrupt Mitochondria’s Function, Impair Hormone Response, Study Finds
Commonly used in household products, the antimicrobial agents known as quaternary ammonium compounds, or “quats,” were found to inhibit mitochondria function and to impair estrogen signaling. The findings raise serious questions regarding the safety of these products, which include toothpastes, shampoos, and lotions, among many others, as exposure to other mitochondrial-inhibiting drugs is known to increase the risk for Parkinson’s development. The study, “In Vitro Evaluation of Mitochondrial Function and Estrogen Signaling in Cell Lines Exposed to the Antiseptic Cetylpyridinium Chloride,” was published in the journal Environmental Health Perspectives, a publication of the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences. “Disinfectants that we are putting on and in our bodies, and using in our environment, have been shown to inhibit mitochondrial energy production and the cellular estrogen response,” biochemist Gino Cortopassi of the UC Davis School of Veterinary Medicine a
