There are several hand sanitizer formulas; all contain alcohol and some contain the antibacterial agent triclosan. During the H1N1 swine flu pandemic, the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) recommended frequent hand washing to minimize the chance of passing on the germs, and recommended alcohol hand sanitizer only if soap and water wasn’t available. There are some health risks related to hand sanitizers, and usually plain soap and water is the better option.
Triclosan Risk
The current craze for antibacterial products has a dangerous downside, warns Dr. Stuart B. Levy in a report written for the Centers for Disease Control (CDC). Triclosan, used in many hand sanitizers, can be absorbed through the skin, and the CDC found triclosan in the urine of almost 75 percent of the population. Excessive use of antibacterial products causes harmful bacteria to mutate and become resistant, such as Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA), a potentially deadly infection that’s resistant to most antibiotics. Levy also cites evidence that over-use of antibacterial agents in a misguided effort to sanitize everything leads to increased risk of allergies, asthma and chronic skin problems. Children are particularly susceptible, since their immune systems have to be challenged in order to become healthy.
Sanitizer Not Always Effective
While hand sanitizer does indeed kill bacteria and some viruses, it does not remove dirt and soil from your hands. Only soap, water and friction do this, according to the University of Florida Extension Service. People who work with food, on farms or in any environment where their hands can get dirty should not rely on hand sanitizer to kill harmful bacteria because dirt and oils can interfere with its effectiveness. Ideally, food workers should first wash with soap and water and follow up with hand sanitizer. Use a dime-sized squirt of hand sanitizer and rub it for at least 30 seconds. The University of Florida Extension Service states that if your hands are dry after 10 to 15 seconds of rubbing, you have not used enough sanitizer to have a protective effect.
Inadequate Ingredients
Check the label on the sanitizer before you buy. To be effective it should contain between 60 and 95 percent alcohol—any less than 60 percent won’t kill bacteria and is a waste of money, according to an article in the New York Times. Similarly, if you follow an online recipe for making your own hand sanitizer, make sure the source is reputable and the sanitizer will contain enough alcohol to work properly. Relying on an ineffective hand sanitizer can give you a false sense of security and will increase the risk of passing on germs.
