Disinfectant wipes became a weapon of choice against the coronavirus when the COVID-19 panic began in 2020.

Many of us continue to use them.

But the good intentions of using wipes to prevent disease might come with some unsettling trade-offs.

Toxic chemical researchers say the zeal to eradicate the coronavirus might have exposed us to potentially dangerous chemicals. This danger comes from a chemical group called quaternary [kwaa·tur·neh·ree] ammonium compounds, commonly called quats [kw-ahts].

If you’ve seen a disinfectant spray or wipe that boasts it kills 99.9% of germs, it’s probably got a quat in it.

Recent research suggest these chemicals are associated with serious health problems, including infertility, metabolic disruption, birth defects and asthma.

Worse still, the chemicals might exacerbate antimicrobial resistance. Indeed, researchers say the government should consider asking consumers to restrict disinfectants to the most essential uses.

Quats aren’t found only in disinfectants. You can also find them in paints, pesticides and some personal care products.

One frightening study checked the blood serum of 200 Indiana residents before and after the start of the COVID-19 pandemic. Investigators found that detectable quat levels doubled during the pandemic.

And researchers warn that these chemicals don’t disappear quickly. They accumulate in the environment and the body.

Scientists say they are not suggesting that disinfectants don’t have a role in preventing illness. But overuse poses serious concerns.

They also note that an old-fashioned, safe germ-fighter is only slightly less effective than disinfectants: soap and water.