Work

Quaternary ammonium compounds as food and environmental contaminants: occurrence, biodegradation, toxicity, analytical challenges, and removal– A critical review

Year: 2026

Type: article

Abstract: Quaternary ammonium compounds (QACs) are widely used to prevent pathogen contamination in many areas (e.g., healthcare, food processing, pharmaceutical industries, and domestic settings). Their intensified use, particularly in recent years, has raised growing concerns regarding their persistence and dissemination in environmental and food-related compartments. This review provides a comprehensive and critical assessment of the occurrence of QAC residues in water, soil, air, food products, and on industrial surfaces, highlighting the multiple pathways of food and environmental exposure. The associated risks are discussed with respect to food safety and ecotoxicological impacts. Beyond occurrence, the environmental fate of QACs is examined by analyzing their biodegradation mechanisms and transformation pathways, highlighting current knowledge gaps and variability across environmental matrices. Particular attention is given to the limitations of existing monitoring strategies. Conventional analytical methods, while sensitive and selective, remain costly and laboratory-bound, whereas rapid detection tools often lack sufficient sensitivity and reliability. In this context, emerging biosensing approaches are critically evaluated as promising alternatives for decentralized and real-time monitoring. Furthermore, this review compares the efficiency, advantages, and limitations of current removal technologies for QACs in environmental and industrial settings, and identifies key challenges to achieving sustainable and scalable solutions. Finally, major research gaps are outlined, including the need for harmonized monitoring frameworks, improved risk assessment methodologies, and innovative detection and remediation strategies. Overall, this work provides an integrated perspective on QACs as emerging contaminants and offers guidance for future research and regulatory developments.

Source: Journal of Hazardous Materials Advances

DOI: 10.1016/j.hazadv.2026.101552

Authors: Youssef Ali, Pascal Mailley, Christophe Soumet, Michel Laurentie, Valerie Gaudin

Institutions: Agence Nationale de Sécurité Sanitaire de l’Alimentation, de l’Environnement et du Travail, Centre national interprofessionnel de l'économie laitière, Commissariat à l'Énergie Atomique et aux Énergies Alternatives

Language: English

Topic: Environmental Chemistry and Analysis

Subfield: Environmental Chemistry

Field: Environmental Science

Domain: Physical Sciences

SDG: Clean water and sanitation

Open Access status: gold

Estimated APC paid: $1,400