Since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic, public health officials have maintained that people can use hand sanitizers as an alternative for hand washing to protect against SARS-CoV-2 infections. However, the widespread use of commercial disinfectant products is leading to another problem,1 and the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is now warning consumers and health care professionals to stop using certain alcohol-based hand sanitizers containing methanol, also known as wood alcohol, because it can cause alcohol poisoning.2
According to agency officials, these hand sanitizers contain as much as up to 81 percent of methanol.3 The FDA has identified over 100 hand sanitizers on their “Do Not Use” list to avoid using, either because they contain toxic levels of ingredients or have alcohol levels that are too low to be protective.4
Methanol Toxicity: From Nausea to Loss of Consciousness
The FDA has stated that methanol is a substance often used to create fuel and antifreeze that can be toxic when absorbed through the skin as well as life-threatening when ingested.5
Dr. Michael Dannenberg, the chair of dermatology at Huntington Hospital in Pasadena, California stated, “Methanol can dehydrate the skin, causing dry skin, and can result in dermatitis to the affected region. The main problem with methanol is that it is absorbed through the skin and can result in toxic levels of this chemical.”6
FDA Commissioner Stephen Hahn said, “Although people using these products on their hands are at risk for methanol poisoning, young children who ingest these products and adolescents and adults who drink these products as an alcohol [ethanol] substitute are most at risk.”7
Some of the symptoms of methanol poisoning include nausea, vomiting, dizziness, headaches, weakness, visual disturbances, and loss of consciousness.8
According to the FDA, in most hand sanitizers, methanol does not appear to be listed as an ingredient on the product label. However, even if it is listed as an ingredient on the product label, methanol is not an approved ingredient in any drug, including hand sanitizers.9
Poison Control Centers Report Increase in Calls
During the pandemic, poison control centers have had an increase in calls about accidental ingestion of hand sanitizer. In March 2020, as concerns about the new novel coronavirus were growing, calls to poison control center surged 80 percent compared to a year ago. This caught the attention of FDA regulators, who noted that most of the nearly 3,300 cases that month involved young children.10
In response to the increasing number of poisoning incidents, the FDA stepped up testing of commercial hand sanitizer products, including shipments made by some of the 1,500 manufacturers that took advantage of high demand and widespread shortage of hand sanitizer.11
Testing Guidance On Alcohol in Hand Sanitizers Updated
On Aug. 7, 2020, the FDA issued updated guidance to provide additional clarification on testing of alcohol used in hand sanitizers manufactured under FDA’s temporary policies to help ensure that harmful levels of methanol are not present in these products.12
The FDA provided clarification that companies must test each lot of the active ingredient (ethanol or isopropyl alcohol) for methanol if the ethanol or isopropyl alcohol is obtained from another source.13Additionally, any alcohol (ethanol or isopropyl alcohol) found to contain more than 630 ppm methanol does not comply with the policies described in the FDA’s temporary guidance and may be considered evidence of substitution and/or contamination.
Alcohol-based hand sanitizers that are contaminated with methanol are subject to adulteration charges under the Federal Food, Drug and Cosmetic (FD&C) Act.14
References:
1 Gibson K. Widespread use of hand sanitizers leads to surge in poisonings. CBS News July 29, 2020.
2 U.S. Food and Drug Administration. Coronavirus (COVID-19) Update: FDA Reiterates Warning About Dangerous Alcohol-Based Hand Sanitizers Containing Methanol, Takes Additional Action to Address Concerning Products. July 27, 2020.
3 Curley C. FDA Expands List of Hand Sanitizers That Contain Toxic Methanol. Healthline July 29, 2020.
4 Kaur H. The FDA’s list of dangerous hand sanitizers has now grown to more than 100. CNN Aug. 3, 2020.
5 See Footnote 2.
6 See Footnote 3.
7 See Footnote 1.
8 See Footnote 3.
9 See Footnote 2.
10 See Footnote 1.
11 Ibid.
12 FDA. FDA updates on hand sanitizers consumers should not use. Aug. 11, 2020.
13 Ibid.
14 Ibid.
4 Responses
I have been suffering from a terrible rash since visiting Ca. in May for docter appointments. i was using hand sanitizers provided by docters offices, and in public restrooms rather than my own, Iwas trying to comply and have been suffering a terrible peeling oozing rash on both hands and now my feet as well that is sun sensitive. How can I heal from this?
From the first time I heard about using these alcohol based “hand sanitizers” I have not used them. I know a woman who worked in an adult care center and because of the nature of her job she had to sanitize her hands numerous times during each day she worked. Her hands and arms were always dry and chapped. I recommended rubbing vitamin E on the chapped areas, which always worked when she did that, but, she did not like it because of the fish smell that accompanies such use. I have not worn masks, except for on two occasions, which I will not repeat, and I have absolutely NO respiratory issues, my skin is moist and healthy, not dry at all (I am 62 years of age). In my opinion this entire covid crap is a bald-faced-lie. There is no validity to any of the claims made about the dangers of covid, or the value of any of the remediation efforts. The claims that there are hundreds of thousands of deaths, in my opinion, are the result of “co-morbidities” and any reference to the deaths as having any relationship to covid-19 are simply because when “doctors” or whoever fills out the “death certificate” are paid extremely well for reporting the deaths as being caused by covid, but that the deaths are in all actuality the result of the co-morbidities” the dead people had prior to their deaths. lThis whole covid scare is solely to co-opt the attention of the masses and to convince them that “only the government” can help us out of this dangerous “pandemic” which is in all actuality just a fear campaign to exhibit how easily people will be cowed and, through using fear, can be convinced to do whatever the government tells them to do. AKA, communism in it’s infancy in America.
Any leads as to which brands or products may be contaminated? I have a nurse friend who has been using so much and her hands are so cracked and covered in eczema.
Don’t they use isopropyl when they give jab ??
That is why they were gloves.
I ware lined rubber gloves, Nitrile reusable. When I shop. To protect my hands from glove sanitizer.
I also use them for painting, garden, snow shoveling…