thevaccinereaction--2020-08-16--Dangers of Methanol-Containing Hand Sanitizers

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 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 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 , “ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 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 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 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 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 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 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 On Aug. 7 , 2020 , the FDA issued updated guidance to provide additional clarification on testing @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 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 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ with methanol are subject to adulteration charges under the Federal Food , Drug and Cosmetic ( FD & C ) Act.14