Poisoning, blindness and death: toxic sanitizers have flooded the US market
The FDA has expanded the list of life-threatening sanitizers to 87 items. If you find one of them, stop using it immediately. About the consequences of the use of such a tool, it is reported on the website arstechnica.com.
Dangerous Sanitizers
This week, The Food and Drug Administration released an updated list of life-threatening hand sanitizers. We are talking about those that contain methanol - a poisonous compound of alcohols that can cause blindness and even lead to death.
Now the "list of unusable" hazardous disinfectants includes 87 items (full list see here). And as the list grows, the FDA reports an increase in reports from state health departments and poison control centers of new injuries and deaths. “We remain extremely concerned about the potential serious dangers of alcohol-based hand sanitizers containing methanol,” said FDA Commissioner Stephen M. Hahn.
On the subject: Target and Walmart still sell recalled deadly hand sanitizers
Good hand hygiene, including the use of hand sanitizers when handwashing is not possible, is an important public health practice, especially during a pandemic. But, according to the FDA commissioner, "consumers also need to be vigilant about what hand sanitizers they use." “For their health and safety, we urge consumers to immediately stop using all hand sanitizers on the FDA's list of hazardous hand sanitizer products,” Khan said.
The agency said that ongoing trials have found disinfectants containing methanol between 1% and 80%. However, they emphasized that any, even the smallest amount of methanol is dangerous to human health and life.
Why is the use of such sanitizers dangerous?
Alcohol, which is metabolized to formaldehyde and then to formic acid, can cause systemic toxic effects if ingested, inhaled, or absorbed through the skin.
Ingestion of as little as two tablespoons of this liquid can be fatal in young children. A smaller amount can cause blindness.
Meanwhile, states continue to report growing amounts of harmful substances that can cause nausea, vomiting, headaches, blurred vision, permanent blindness, seizures, coma, permanent nervous system damage, heart attacks and death.
In one case, investigators linked the death to Blumen hand sanitizer, distributed by 4e North America and manufactured by 4E Global in Mexico. The company recently expanded its list of product recalls.
Warnings about the use of toxic hand sanitizers first surfaced in late June. Then the FDA identified nine contraindicated products from one manufacturer in Mexico. In an update released earlier this month, the FDA said it has identified five more brands of methanol-containing hand sanitizers.
The FDA issued warning letters to these companies, pushed for product recalls, and posted product import information.
What to do if you already have one of these funds
The agency recommends that consumers avoid all products from any of the manufacturers on this list.
If you find yourself in possession of one of these products, stop using it immediately—dispose of it in a hazardous waste container (do not flush it down the drain), seek immediate medical attention if necessary, and report the incident to the FDA.
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