Watch out for this ingredient in hand sanitizers

August 9, 2020 - 10:49 am
Poison Control

Beware of Hand Sanitizers Containing Methanol

A alert has been given on hand sanitizers containing methanol (methyl alcohol), by the American Association of Poison Control Centers on August 7, 2020.

The United States Food and Drug Administration has warned already about the methanol contamination in certain hand sanitizers.

A toxic alcohol found in various family and industrial products, methanol (CH3Oh) is a toxic alcohol. A common name for methanol, ethylene glycol and isopropyl alcohol is ‘toxic alcohol.’  Items containing methanol include windshield washing fluid, antifreeze gas line, carburetor cleaner, fluid copying machines, perfumes, fuel for food heating and other forms and now in some hand sanitizers. Exposures can result in varying degrees of toxicity, from close-lab monitoring to antidotal therapy and dialysis.  
Exposure to methanol can be very unhealthy and have a high number of morbidity and mortality if help is not received.  Methanol is extremely poisonous and can make you “blind intoxicated,” says poison experts, as it is capable of destroying the optic nerve.  As little as 10 ml of pure methanol can cause permanent blindness when the optical nerve is damaged.

Patients can experience nausea, vomiting and abdominal pain, depending on the dosage of methanol and the amount swallowed. Headache, dizziness, and slurred speech can also be common symptoms, according to a news release from the poison control center.

The amounts of these polluted products are varied and can result in very toxic coma, respiratory failure, seizures, blindness and death.

Call the poison control center if you have an adverse reaction to methanol-containing hand sanitizers.

Below are a few ways to receive secure and expert assistance:

  • You can send the text message “POISON” to the number 797979.
  • Save 800-222-1222 as the “Poison  Help Hotline” on your mobile device.
  • Prominently show the hotline number in an easily accessible area of your home.
For more information or if you have questions, visit the American Association of Poison control Centers here: https://aapcc.org/

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