Disinfectant Exposure Study

15 Feb Disinfectant Exposure Study

Benzalkonium chlorides (BACs) are widely used in various cleaning and disinfectant products. Individuals can be exposed to BACs from medical settings, restaurants, and homes or through consumer products or specific foods. Study participants will fill out a questionnaire about their occupation and use of products that might contain BAC. We will collect a fecal sample prior to the Sampling Visit and a blood sample and a urine sample after an overnight fast. Levels of BACs and their metabolites will be measured in the samples. In addition, we will measure lipids, bile acids, markers of kidney function, microbiome composition, and genetic differences in specific genes to see if these are associated with the BACs levels.

Website for more information: https://sites.uw.edu/bacstudy/

Participant Eligibility

Inclusion criteria:
• Be between the ages of 18 and 49 years
• Currently in good health
• BMI between 18-27 kg/m2
• Willing to provide a fecal sample to be collected using a provided sample kit 24 hours prior to the Sampling Visit and to store the sample in a freezer until the study visit
• Willing to fast overnight before providing a blood and urine sample
• Have a blood and urine sample collected at the University of Washington Medical Center at the scheduled Sampling Visit
• Read and understand English
• Provide informed consent

Exclusion Criteria:
• Diagnosed with any significant medical conditions, including cardiac, hepatic, gastrointestinal, renal, or autoimmune disease, diabetes, or other metabolic diseases (high cholesterol or lipids)
• Taking medication or supplements (within the last 2 weeks) that might affect cholesterol or lipid levels (Examples are drugs like statins, ion-exchange resins, fibrates, niacin, ezetimibe, red yeast rice, antibiotics, retinoids, corticosteroids, immunosuppressant medications, antipsychotics, antidepressants, etc.)
• Currently pregnant or breast-feeding

Contact

Yvonne Lin
(206) 616-8728