Quaternary ammonium compounds: a standardized nomenclature approach to enhance understanding of an under-studied class of compounds

Quaternary ammonium compounds, often referred to as QACs or quats, are a class of frequently used chemicals that have received increasing attention due to their increased use during the COVID-19 pandemic and association with a variety of hazard traits. The lack of a standardized nomenclature for this class compromises our ability to understand the use of individual QACs within and across products and product categories, which in turn makes it challenging to accurately assess the potential for human and environmental exposures. This paper presents a clear, descriptive, and consistent nomenclature for QACs. This nomenclature was developed with a focus on QACs used as surfactants and antimicrobials in personal care and cleaning products. By harmonizing the names and abbreviations used to communicate about QACs by the scientific, regulatory, and industrial communities, we hope to improve the ease and accuracy of that communication.