The purpose of hand sanitizer is to quickly kill large amounts of bacteria and viruses. Isopropanol and ethanol are the main ingredient in American-made hand sanitizers. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) suggests washing hands with soap and clean running water for 20 seconds when available. At all other times, “alcohol-based rubs will reduce the number of germs on the skin and are fast acting.”
Alcohol Poisoning
Hand sanitizing gels can contain 62 percent ethyl alcohol. This is enough to intoxicate and even cause alcohol poisoning in a young child. The Pittsburgh Poison Control Center and Drug Information Center indicates that the typical exposure by a small child is not usually a problem. For one thing, these products usually taste bad or irritate the tongue. However, between 2005 and 2006, poison control centers reported 20,000 hand-sanitizer exposures, with over 17,000 involving children less than six years of age. Fortunately, none of the cases resulted in death.
Most hand sanitizers come with a warning to keep out of the reach of children. However, a 2006 CDC article reported, “several Internet sites provide recipes for a bubble gum–scented children’s hand sanitizer that contains 33 percent isopropanol as the sole active ingredient.” It has an aroma that not only appeals to young children but also does not contain enough active ingredient to kill some harmful bacteria and viruses, yet it has enough alcohol to cause damage if ingested.
Ineffective Hand Sanitizers
In 2006, the CDC issued a report indicating that some manufacturers of hand sanitizers were marketing and selling products that were not effective in reducing bacterial count on hands because of the low alcohol content. However, the labels on these products were still advertising a 99.9 percent success rate at reducing germs and harmful bacteria. “The marketing profile of deep-discount chains suggests that poorer segments of the population may be more at risk of purchasing inadequate antiseptic gels,” wrote the CDC. It is important to check alcohol concentration in hand sanitizers and use products with at least 60 percent ethanol content.
Contaminated Products
In 2010, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) reported that some hand sanitizers were contaminated with bacteria. Following the swine flu scare of 2009, many companies rushed to market with their own formulations of skin sanitizers. After an investigation, the FDA inspected one plant manufacturing contaminated product and uncovered various problems with the manufacturing practices.
Sanitizer Warnings
In 2009, Q-Based Healthcare, a Louisiana-based company, issued a release indicating that hand sanitizers can cause more harm than good. “Alcohol dries the skin, causing cracks–opening a direct pathway for disease to the human bloodstream.” Alcohol skin sanitizers remove natural oils from the surface of the skin, causing fine cracks that can be worsened by normal activity. People also tend to over-use sanitizing agents, reports Q-Based Healthcare, and forgo washing hands with soap and water when it is available. The CDC recommends using a moisturizer to prevent hands from drying or using a hand sanitizer infused with moisturizer or aloe.
