Maternal Exposure to Quaternary Ammonium Disinfectants: Transplacental Transfer and Adverse Effects on Placental Function.
6 affiliations
- 1MOE Key Laboratory of Pollution Processes and Environmental Criteria/Academy for Advanced Interdisciplinary Studies (AAIS), College of Environmental Science and Engineering, Nankai University, Tianjin 300350, China.
- 2Department of Chemistry, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON M5S 3H6, Canada.
- 3Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Tianjin Jinnan Hospital, Tianjin 300350, China.
- 4College of Environmental Science and Engineering, Dalian Maritime University, Dalian, Liaoning 116026, China.
- 5National Engineering Research Center of Pesticide, College of Chemistry, Nankai University, Tianjin 300071, China.
- 6School of Agriculture and Biotechnology, Sun Yat-Sen University, Shenzhen 518107, China.
Abstract
Quaternary ammonium disinfectants (QACs) are being increasingly used since the COVID-19 pandemic, however, their potential impacts on sensitive populations (e.g., pregnant populations and developing fetuses) remain largely unexplored. In this study, we combined human biomonitoring with in vivo models (including rat uterine perfusion and oral administration in mice) and an in vitro model (human placental trophoblast BeWo cell line) to evaluate gestational exposure, the transplacental transport, and the toxic effects of QACs on placenta function. QACs are frequently detected in human maternal and cord blood/serum, revealing widespread gestational exposure and potential health effects. The molecular structure and lipid solubility affect the transplacental transfer of QACs. Using RT-qPCR, Western blotting, immunofluorescence staining of rat placenta, siRNA-mediated knockdown in BeWo cells, and molecular docking analysis, we demonstrated that organic cation/carnitine transporters (OCTN1/2) are involved in the transplacental transfer of QACs. QACs exhibit stronger acute cytotoxicity (e.g., 3.75 μM for C10DDAC) than well-recognized reproductive toxicants (e.g., TCS, PFOS, PFOA and MEHP). Exposure to nonlethal concentrations of QACs disrupts the expression of genes involved in cell differentiation and placental vascular development and dysregulates progesterone release in BeWo cells. Together, these findings suggest a mechanistic pathway through which ubiquitous disinfectants reach the fetus and impair placental function, highlighting the urgent need to re-evaluate their use during pregnancy to prevent exposure and health risks to the developing fetus.
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BibTeX
@article{cheng2026maternal,
title = {{Maternal Exposure to Quaternary Ammonium Disinfectants: Transplacental Transfer and Adverse Effects on Placental Function.}},
author = {Zhipeng Cheng and Shaohan Zhang and Jialan Liu and Xiaoying Li and Ping Li and Pingping Wang and Hongkai Zhu and Yiming Yao and Lei Wang and Hui Peng and Tao Zhang and Hongwen Sun},
journal = {Environmental health perspectives},
year = {2026},
month = sep,
doi = {10.1021/ehp.6c00076},
url = {https://europepmc.org/article/MED/42997251},
note = {CC BY-NC-ND},
}
RIS
TY - JOUR
TI - Maternal Exposure to Quaternary Ammonium Disinfectants: Transplacental Transfer and Adverse Effects on Placental Function.
AU - Zhipeng Cheng
AU - Shaohan Zhang
AU - Jialan Liu
AU - Xiaoying Li
AU - Ping Li
AU - Pingping Wang
AU - Hongkai Zhu
AU - Yiming Yao
AU - Lei Wang
AU - Hui Peng
AU - Tao Zhang
AU - Hongwen Sun
PY - 2026
DA - 2026/09/25
JO - Environmental health perspectives
DO - 10.1021/ehp.6c00076
UR - https://europepmc.org/article/MED/42997251
AB - Quaternary ammonium disinfectants (QACs) are being increasingly used since the COVID-19 pandemic, however, their potential impacts on sensitive populations (e.g., pregnant populations and developing fetuses) remain largely unexplored. In this study, we combined human biomonitoring with in vivo models (including rat uterine perfusion and oral administration in mice) and an in vitro model (human placental trophoblast BeWo cell line) to evaluate gestational exposure, the transplacental transport, and the toxic effects of QACs on placenta function. QACs are frequently detected in human maternal and cord blood/serum, revealing widespread gestational exposure and potential health effects. The molecular structure and lipid solubility affect the transplacental transfer of QACs. Using RT-qPCR, Western blotting, immunofluorescence staining of rat placenta, siRNA-mediated knockdown in BeWo cells, and molecular docking analysis, we demonstrated that organic cation/carnitine transporters (OCTN1/2) are involved in the transplacental transfer of QACs. QACs exhibit stronger acute cytotoxicity (e.g., 3.75 μM for C10DDAC) than well-recognized reproductive toxicants (e.g., TCS, PFOS, PFOA and MEHP). Exposure to nonlethal concentrations of QACs disrupts the expression of genes involved in cell differentiation and placental vascular development and dysregulates progesterone release in BeWo cells. Together, these findings suggest a mechanistic pathway through which ubiquitous disinfectants reach the fetus and impair placental function, highlighting the urgent need to re-evaluate their use during pregnancy to prevent exposure and health risks to the developing fetus.
SN - 0091-6765
SN - 1552-9924
ER -