Warning, danger....Will Robinson!

Nasal Sprays: More There Than Meets the Nose?
WebMD Health NewsMay 14, 2001 -- A common ingredient found in nasal saline sprays be may doing more harm than good, according to new research out of Eastern Virginia Medical School in Norfolk.


Over-the-counter saline sprays are used to moisten dry nasal membranes, clear debris from the nasal passageway, and improve mucous membrane function; they're also frequently used after sinus or nasal surgery. Many commercially available saline solutions have an added preservative to keep bacteria from growing in them.


The trouble appears to be with the most common preservative, benzalkonium chloride (BKC), which researchers say kills off important cells found in the nose. These cells, called neutrophils, are present all over the surfaces of the nose and mouth, and provide a frontline defense against invading organisms. There must be enough functioning neutrophils for the body to successfully fight off infections, including sinusitis.


"I think this study is important because it is the first time we are aware of that someone has shown that there are deleterious side effects to saline nasal spray," says lead author Mark Boston, MD, who presented his findings at the Triological Society's annual meeting, held this year in Palm Desert, Calif.


"Other research has shown that steroid sprays containing the preservative [BKC] can inhibit neutrophil function, but we showed that the [BKC] destroys the cells and releases intracellular content," says Boston, a senior resident in the department of otolaryngology-head and neck surgery at Eastern Virginia Medical School.


Boston and his colleagues examined under a microscope samples of neutrophils from volunteers who had rinsed their mouths with either a nasal saline spray containing BKC or a similar saline solution without the preservative. Additionally, they exposed human neutrophils to saline spray with different concentrations of BKC and for different amounts of time. In both experiments, the researchers found that the neutrophils exposed to BKC were killed off while the ones exposed to the nasal spray without the preservative remained basically intact.


"I think it is important to realize that saline nasal spray is just saltwater. It has many benefits in terms of moisturizing the nose and clearing debris and mucus, and I encourage its use when indicated. ..." says Boston. "Because it is saltwater, however, it should be safe and does not need to have preservatives added, especially when these preservatives can make symptoms worse."


But Boston conceded that his are just preliminary.


"I think further research that evaluates the potential link between the destruction of neutrophils by [BKC] and patient symptoms needs to be evaluated," he says.


Another reason to do more studies on BKC, Boston says, is that the preservative is also used in eye-drop preparations, inhalers, steroid nasal sprays, and nasal decongestants.


James Coticchia, MD, agrees that more research is needed.

I buy saline spray with NO additives at all.

My saline nasal spray had no additives of any kind either.

I note that the research cited is almost 8 years old. Could be that the research was taken farther and such additives were removed or the findings were unfounded.

Debjax wrote:I buy saline spray with NO additives at all.

Where are you finding the saline spray with no additives? I thought mine was just saline until this post and I went and looked and I don't think it has the BKC in it but I don't know what all the other stuff is.

In addition to the sodium cloride it also has Disodium Phosphate, Phenylcarbinol, Mosodium Phosphate and Benzalkonium Cloride. Anyone know what all these extras are?

Jerry

6PtStar wrote:

Debjax wrote:I buy saline spray with NO additives at all.

Where are you finding the saline spray with no additives? I thought mine was just saline until this post and I went and looked and I don't think it has the BKC in it but I don't know what all the other stuff is.

In addition to the sodium cloride it also has Disodium Phosphate, Phenylcarbinol, Mosodium Phosphate and Benzalkonium Cloride. Anyone know what all these extras are?

Jerry

Jerry,

Your saline does have the BKC in it. It is the Benzalkonium Cloride you just listed in the ingredients in your saline spray. Recheck garylands post above and you wil see the Benzalkonium Cloride (BKC). You must have just missed that ingredient when reading it.

I bring a magnifying glass with me to check ingredients of anything that goes into my body as I don't tolerate all these fillers.

Hope you change your saline spray, Jerry.

Anne

6PtStar wrote:

Debjax wrote:I buy saline spray with NO additives at all.

Where are you finding the saline spray with no additives? I thought mine was just saline until this post and I went and looked and I don't think it has the BKC in it but I don't know what all the other stuff is.

My local CVS.....looked at every brand 'till I found one that is just saline. It's called Simply Saline and comes in a can. Not aerosol, but under pressure. Ingredients are purified water and 3% sodium Chloride.

I also use the brand Simply Saline- the one Debjax uses. I am in Canada and buy it at Shoppers Drug Mart.

One Tired Puppy wrote:Hope you change your saline spray, Jerry.

Anne

Well darn, I missed the initials, should have known that. I do not use the solution for neti pot/squeeze bottle rinse. It has only salt and baking soda (I add the distilled water). It was a nasal spray and I just bought 10 bottles. They were on sale for a dollar a bottle if you bought 10. I dumped them and refilled the bottle on a couple (after rinseing) with some of the solution I had for nasal rinse. Thanks all for catching this.

Jerry