The U.S. Food and Drug Administration is reiterating its warnings for toxic hand sanitizers – this time, not just after finding extra dangerous products; the FDA also found an additional toxic ingredient.
The FDA announced this week that it has identified hand sanitizers that contain 1-propanol, a toxic form of alcohol that has not yet been seen in contaminated products. When ingested, it can cause confusion, consciousness, slow pulse and breathing, and even death.
The ever-growing “do not use” list of hazardous hand sanitizers now includes 157 products. You can see the full list of dangerous products here on the FDA website. Below is a sample of some labels of hazardous products.
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One of the products was found to contain 1-propanol.
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Product with methanol.
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Remember product with insufficient amount of isopropyl alcohol.
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Product with methanol.
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Product with methanol.
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Product with methanol.
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Product with methanol.
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Call for contamination of methanol.
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Product with methanol.
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Product with methanol.
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Product with methanol.
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Product with methanol.
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Product with methanol.
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Product with methanol.
NIH
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Hand Sanitizer Gel from Grupo Insoma found to contain methanol.
Most of the products on the list are dangerous because they – or are associated with products that do – contain toxic methanol, which the FDA has been warning since June. It seems that as the pandemic escalated and the demand for hand sanitation products increased step by step, companies started flooding the market with cunning and fraudulent products. While the FDA claims that consumers are use recommended products for sanitation if soap and water are not available as part of good hand hygiene, the agency says consumers should use safe, legitimate products carefully.
The main toxic component in dangerous products, methanol, is a type of alcohol often called “wood alcohol” and associated with poorly distilled liquor. Drinking even small amounts can cause blindness and death. This is a particular concern for people with alcohol addiction, adolescents who take risks, and curious young children who may be tempted to try drinking sanitizers. But methanol can also pose risks if it is inhaled or absorbed through the skin. Both pathways can cause systemic toxic effects, such as visual disturbances, given large enough doses.
According to the FDA, states are increasingly identifying cases in which people became seriously ill or permanently blind or died by injecting methanol-containing products for hand sanitation.
Earlier this month, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention published a study of 15 such cases. Of the 15 people poisoned by methanol-containing sanitizers, four died, three were diagnosed with vision loss, and four remained in the hospital at the time of publication. The remaining four were discharged from the hospital without complications. The poisoning only occurred between May 1 and June 30, and investigators looked only at cases in New Mexico and Arizona. The researchers note that other states are likely to see similar cases.
Propanol
The newly identified toxic contaminant, 1-propanol (aka propanol, propyl alcohol, n-propanol) has the chemical formula CH3CH2CH2OH (C3H8O). It is made in small quantities during fermentation and is used as an industrial solvent. It is not to be confused with isopropanol (aka 2-propanol, isopropyl alcohol) which has the similar formula: CH3CHOHCH3 (C3H8O). Isopropanol-containing sanitizers are safe and effective, as are ethanol-containing products (aka ethyl alcohol, C2H6O), at concentrations above 60 percent.
Like ethanol found in alcoholic beverages, 1-propanol has a depressant effect on the central nervous system. However, case studies suggest that 1-propanol effects on the nervous system are two to four times stronger. When consumed, it can cause confusion, decrease consciousness, and slow heart rate and breathing that can lead to death, the FDA warns. Skin and eye exposure may also lead to irritation and, in rare cases, allergic reactions.
The FDA found 1-propanol contaminating four products manufactured by Harmonic Nature S de RL de MI in Mexico. 1-propanol “is not an acceptable ingredient for hand sanitizer products sold in the United States and can be toxic and life-threatening when ingested,” the FDA noted in its warning. The bureau recommended a reminder.
As in previous warnings, the FDA advises consumers to stop using any of the listed products immediately and dispose of them as hazardous waste (do not flush the products down the drain). Anyone experiencing symptoms of poisoning should seek immediate medical attention.
