benzalkonium chloride in nasal sprays?

[Bluesy StuffRocks]

why is benzalkonium chloride still used in nasal sprays? it's even in
many saline nasal sprays. isn't it known to irritate mucosal tissue?

[asdfasdf]

Post by Bluesy StuffRocks
why is benzalkonium chloride still used in nasal sprays? it's even in
many saline nasal sprays. isn't it known to irritate mucosal tissue?

Probably because in reality it's really not bad. There are some
however, who blame it for all kinds of things. In high concentrations
it is likely bad for you as are many normally safe chemical compounds.

[Susan]

x-no-archive: yes

Probably because in reality it's really not bad. There are some
however, who blame it for all kinds of things. In high concentrations
it is likely bad for you as are many normally safe chemical compounds.

We saw a study posted here long ago where 3 (I think it was three)
different preservatives were tested, including BK. Only after the BK
did the nasal cilia lay down and die and never recover. The other's
effects weren't as permanent.

Susan

[asdfasdf]

Post by Susan
x-no-archive: yes

Probably because in reality it's really not bad. There are some
however, who blame it for all kinds of things. In high concentrations
it is likely bad for you as are many normally safe chemical compounds.

We saw a study posted here long ago where 3 (I think it was three)
different preservatives were tested, including BK. Only after the BK did
the nasal cilia lay down and die and never recover. The other's effects
weren't as permanent.
Susan

In what concentrations?

[asdfasdf]

Post by Susan
x-no-archive: yes

Probably because in reality it's really not bad. There are some
however, who blame it for all kinds of things. In high concentrations
it is likely bad for you as are many normally safe chemical compounds.

We saw a study posted here long ago where 3 (I think it was three)
different preservatives were tested, including BK. Only after the BK did
the nasal cilia lay down and die and never recover. The other's effects
weren't as permanent.
Susan

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/8556567

The lack of effect of benzalkonium chloride on the cilia of the nasal
mucosa in patients with perennial allergic rhinitis: a combined
functional, light, scanning and transmission electron microscopy study.
Braat JP, Ainge G, Bowles JA, Richards DH, Van Riessen D, Visser WJ,
Rijntjes E.
Source

Department of Ear, Nose and Throat Surgery, Leyenburg Hospital, The
Hague, The Netherlands.
Abstract
BACKGROUND:

Controversy still exists about the effect of 0.02% benzalkonium chloride
(BKC), a preservative in many nasal sprays, on human nasal epithelium in
vivo.
OBJECTIVE:

To determine the safety of BKC by assessing its effect on the function
and morphology of cilia of human nasal epithelium.
METHODS:

A single-centre, double-blind nasal biopsy study in 22 patients with
perennial allergic rhinitis, receiving fluticasone propionate aqueous
nasal spray (FPANS) containing BKC, BKC plus placebo or placebo alone
for 6 weeks. Before, at two weekly intervals during treatment and 2
weeks after treatment ceased an indigocarmine saccharine transport time
(ICST) was performed.
RESULTS:

ICST results did not significantly vary between the groups. There was no
statistical relationship between the number of ciliated cells present
and the treatment the patients received. Scanning and transmission
electron microscopy examination showed no effects of BKC.
CONCLUSION:

Despite reports of its ciliostatic effects in vitro, BKC did not have
such an effect when it was applied for 6 weeks (with/without fluticasone
propionate) to the nasal mucosa of perennial allergic rhinitis patients
in vivo.

[Susan]

x-o-archive: yes

There are always studies supported by chemical manufacturers to support
the safety claims of harmful products... Rezulin, LymeRix, Vioxx,
Celebrex, statins, Avandia...

Doesn't make it true.

Susan

Post by asdfasdf
The lack of effect of benzalkonium chloride on the cilia of the nasal
mucosa in patients with perennial allergic rhinitis: a combined
functional, light, scanning and transmission electron microscopy study.
Braat JP, Ainge G, Bowles JA, Richards DH, Van Riessen D, Visser WJ,
Rijntjes E.
Source
Department of Ear, Nose and Throat Surgery, Leyenburg Hospital, The
Hague, The Netherlands.
Abstract
Controversy still exists about the effect of 0.02% benzalkonium chloride
(BKC), a preservative in many nasal sprays, on human nasal epithelium in
vivo.
To determine the safety of BKC by assessing its effect on the function
and morphology of cilia of human nasal epithelium.
A single-centre, double-blind nasal biopsy study in 22 patients with
perennial allergic rhinitis, receiving fluticasone propionate aqueous
nasal spray (FPANS) containing BKC, BKC plus placebo or placebo alone
for 6 weeks. Before, at two weekly intervals during treatment and 2
weeks after treatment ceased an indigocarmine saccharine transport time
(ICST) was performed.
ICST results did not significantly vary between the groups. There was no
statistical relationship between the number of ciliated cells present
and the treatment the patients received. Scanning and transmission
electron microscopy examination showed no effects of BKC.
Despite reports of its ciliostatic effects in vitro, BKC did not have
such an effect when it was applied for 6 weeks (with/without fluticasone
propionate) to the nasal mucosa of perennial allergic rhinitis patients
in vivo.

[asfyso]

On the dangers of benzalkonium chloride, see :

Int J Pharm. 2007 Jun 29;338(1-2):64-9. Epub 2007 Jan 21.
Effect of preservatives on ciliary beat frequency in human nasal
epithelial cell culture: single versus multiple exposure.
Mallants R, Jorissen M, Augustijns P.
Source
Laboratory for Pharmacotechnology and Biopharmacy, Katholieke
Universiteit Leuven, Leuven, Belgium.
Abstract
As preservatives may impair mucociliary clearance, we wanted to
systematically study their time-dependent effect on the ciliary beat
frequency (CBF) in human nasal epithelial cells (HNEC). CBF was
determined using a high-speed digital imaging method. Five
preservatives were selected including benzalkonium chloride,
phenylethyl alcohol, methylparaben, propylparaben and chlorbutol. We
were interested in the effect of these preservatives on CBF after
single and repetitive exposure. Methylparaben (0.0033%), propylparaben
(0.0017%) and chlorbutol (0.005%) did not impair CBF, neither after a
single short-term exposure period, nor after a single long-term
exposure period. Long-term exposure to benzalkonium chloride (0.001%),
phenylethyl alcohol (0.125%) and a combination of methyl- and
propylparaben (0.0033 and 0.0017%) significantly decreased CBF. After
a short-term exposure period, CBF recovered for phenylethyl alcohol
and the combination of methyl- and propylparaben. Benzalkonium
chloride decreased CBF non-reversibly. For two compounds, the effect
on CBF was evaluated after repetitive exposure during 15min for 5
consecutive days. Benzalkonium chloride resulted in ciliostasis for
all concentrations tested after 5 days. Phenylethyl alcohol revealed a
concentration-dependent effect on CBF, but no ciliostasis was
observed. In conclusion, methylparaben, propylparaben and chlorbutol
can be considered as cilio-friendly. Repetitive exposure revealed a
cumulative effect on CBF for benzalkonium chloride and phenylethyl
alcohol.
PMID: 17324538 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]


Am J Rhinol. 2008 Mar-Apr;22(2):125-9.
In vitro effects of preservatives in nasal sprays on human nasal
epithelial cells.
Ho CY, Wu MC, Lan MY, Tan CT, Yang AH.
Source
Department of Otolaryngology, Veterans General Hospital-Taipei and
National Yang-Ming University, Taipei, Taiwan.

Abstract
BACKGROUND:
The preservatives benzalkonium chloride and potassium sorbate are
widely used in nasal drops and sprays. Recently, side effects
resulting from mucosal damage caused by benzalkonium chloride and
potassium sorbate were reported.
METHODS:
We investigated the toxicity of benzalkonium chloride and potassium
sorbate on human nasal epithelial cells in vitro. Using primary human
nasal epithelial cells, different concentrations of benzalkonium
chloride, potassium sorbate, or phosphate-buffered saline (PBS;
control group) solutions were cocultured with nasal epithelial cells
for 15 minutes. Then, the viability of the cells and the cell
morphology were assessed.
RESULTS:
Nasal epithelial cells were more severely damaged with use of clinical
preparations or higher concentrations of benzalkonium chloride than in
the control group. In addition, nasal epithelial cell membrane lysis
was seen on electronic microscopy in the benzalkonium chloride groups.
In contrast, there was no significant cell damage seen in the
potassium sorbate groups compared with the control group, even with
higher concentrations than clinically used.
CONCLUSION:
Potassium sorbate appears to be a relatively safer preservative than
benzalkonium chloride for use in nasal sprays and drops in vitro
study.
PMID: 18416966 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]