Fertility warning over antiseptic chemicals in common household cleaning fluid, wipes
Exposure to common household products damages human cells Chemicals in common household products could be making us infertile, scientists say. Hand wipes, disinfectants and mouthwash all contain ‘quats’ – quaternary ammonium compounds – used to destroy germs. While the threat to hormones from the plastic containers is well known, these antiseptic chemicals have also been linked to infertility. Mice exposed to them were left unable to have babies, and scientists have now found they damage human cells. Examples of the household products containing quats include Dettol surface cleaner and antibacterial wipes, as well as Tesco disinfectant. But there are many more, including Lemsip Max All In One Liquid and two types of mouthwash from Colgate. Dr. Gino Cortopassi, co-author of a study on the chemicals from the University of California, Davis, United States (US), said: “It is concerning that these everyday household products contain these chemicals, which a...