Methanol Contamination in Hand Sanitizers.

- August 22, 2020

FDA is cautioning purchasers and medical healthcare product manufacturers that the organization has seen large levels of contamination in sanitizer items; that is claimed to contain ethanol (otherwise called ethyl liquor/ Ethyl Alcohol) yet that have tried positive for methanol tainting.

Mainly methanol is not an appropriate element for hand sanitizers and due to the presence of its poisonous property, it is not used as well. FDA keeps up a rundown of FDA-tried and reviewed hand sanitizers on the organization's site, which will be constantly refreshed as perilous items are discovered.

Methanol has less antiseptic properties than ethanol. Constant methanol introduction in our body may cause permanent blindness, nausea, permanent damage to the nervous system, vomiting, blurred vision, headache, seizures, coma, or in certain cases it may cause death also.

Although sometimes small kids who coincidentally ingest these products; nowadays all the people use these products frequently on their hands, teenagers, and grown-ups who drink these items as a liquor (ethanol) substitute, this leads mainly to methanol poisoning.

Customers and medical physician are warned by FDA for using hand sanitizers, including those produced by Harmonic Nature S de RL de MI in Mexico, that are marked to contain ethanol or isopropyl liquor yet have tried positive for 1-propanol tainting.

1-propanol, not to be mixed for 2-propanol/isopropanol/isopropyl liquor, isn't a worthy element for hand sanitizer Product.The office urges purchasers not to utilize these 1-propanol-tainted items

Aged persons who drink methanol as a substitute for alcohol(ethanol) are more risky for human health. Intake of methanol may affect your Central Nervous System(Mostly CNS depression), which can result in death.
Methanol intake shows so many toxic effects in our body include decreased consciousness,slowed pulse and breathing & Confusion. Clinical studies state that effects of methanol compared to alcohol(ethanol) shows 3 to 4 times more depressant action .
Using hand sanitizers containing methanol results in eye and skin irritation and in rare cases allergic skin problems also noticed
(07/08/2020) FDA has given detailed guidances which provide to manufacturing companies for testing all lot of ingredients for production of (ethanol/isopropyl alcohol) reference to methanol presence.FDA suggests USP monographs as ideal for testing for alcohol.
(27/07/2020) Coronavirus (COVID-19) Update: FDA gives warning to all Manufacturers of Dangerous Alcohol-Based Hand Sanitizers Containing Methanol, otherwise they will take strict Action against Concerning Products.

Go to FDA Press Release .

Q: Is denatured spirit used as hand sanitizer?

A: First we discuss what is denatured spirit ; it's also known as methylated spirit or wood spirit and it can be used to strip the floor or in making shellacs. So please don't use as such for sanitizing purposes or don't add them in homemade sanitizer.

Q:Is sanitizers sufficient to protect from covid-19 pandemic?

A: Hand sanitizers is not first preventive mechanism for covid-19 its an alternative for hand washing. According to WHO washing hand with soap & water is sufficient to protect from it.; when soap & water is not available then we can use hand sanitizers as substituent.

This hand sanitizers contents at least 60% of alcohol(ethanol).