Your Hand Sanitizer Contains an Endocrine Disruptor

Benzalkonium chloride, the active ingredient in many hand sanitizers, surface cleaners, and disinfectant wipes, is an endocrine disruptor. It blocks an enzyme that regulates cortisol, your body's main stress hormone.

What the Study Found

A 2026 study found that benzalkonium disinfectants inhibit 11β-HSD2, an enzyme that regulates cortisol levels. Blocking this enzyme can lead to excess cortisol activity, which causes high blood pressure, metabolic disruption, and immune suppression.

Benzalkonium chloride use surged during COVID-19 and hasn't gone back down. It's in hand sanitizers, surface sprays, wet wipes, and even some eye drops and nasal sprays.

What You Can Do

Use soap and water instead of hand sanitizer when possible. Check cleaning products for benzalkonium chloride and switch to simpler alternatives. Plain soap kills germs just as effectively for everyday use.

Browse our non-toxic home essentials for safer cleaning.

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Source: Benzalkonium Endocrine Disruption Study (2026).