Safety evaluation of a quaternary ammonium sanitizer for turkey drinking water

A safety study was conducted with Germex, a 20% solution of n-alkyldimethylbenzylammonium chlorides with an alkyl distribution of C12(lauryl), 5%; C14(myristyl), 60%; C16(palmityl), 30%; and C8, C10, C18(respectively caprylyl, capryl, stearyl), 5%. In a 6-week experiment, levels up to 500 ppm active ingredient were given in the drinking water of growing turkey poults. The recommended use level is approximately 65 ppm. The highest no-effect dose was about 200 ppm, which did not depress growth significantly (P>0.05). More than 200 ppm gave some evidence of irritating oral mucosa and causing clinical signs of respiratory distress. The highest level, 500 ppm, was not tolerated, causing 33% mortality between 6 and 17 days of medication. Death was preceded by the clinical syndrome of Germex toxicity. This syndrome is somewhat pathognomonic, with a reduction in water consumption being the primary sign.