Jun 24, 2020 12:30:00

Public authorities warn that they are producing dangerous hand sanitizers that can cause blindness

Many people buy antiseptic solutions and masks in order to prevent the spread of the new coronavirus, which is rampant all over the world. Meanwhile, it has been reported that people who believed that 'it works against the new coronavirus'

accidentally used detergents and disinfectants to become addicted, but newly 'hazardous hand disinfection that may cause blindness. The drug is manufactured,' the US Food and Drug Administration warned.

FDA advises consumers not to use hand sanitizer products manufactured by Eskbiochem | FDA
https://www.fda.gov/drugs/drug-safety-and-availability/fda-advises-consumers-not-use-hand-sanitizer-products-manufactured-eskbiochem

9 Hand Sanitizers May Be Toxic, FDA Warns-The New York Times
https://www.nytimes.com/2020/06/22/health/fda-Eskbiochem-toxic-hand-sanitizer-virus.html

Toxic methanol that causes blindness found in hand sanitizers, FDA warns | Ars Technica
https://arstechnica.com/science/2020/06/toxic-methanol-that-causes-blindness-found-in-hand-sanitizers-fda-warns/

The FDA warns against using 9 hand sanitizers manufactured by the Mexican manufacturer Eskbiochem . When the FDA tested the ingredients contained in these products, it was found that two of them used methanol, which is harmful to the human body, rather than ethanol, which is used in common hand sanitizers.

The product called CleanCare No Germ contained 28% methanol, and the product Lavar Gel contained 81% methanol, FDA said, 'Methanol is an ingredient that is allowed to be used as a hand sanitizer. No,' he pointed out. People who know that they have used a product containing methanol warn that they should be treated immediately. Eskbiochem said that it heard a warning from the FDA on June 22, 2020, but it seems that products are not collected at the time of writing the article.

Methanol has the simplest molecular structure of alcohol, but it is extremely toxic and can be harmful to the body if swallowed, inhaled or taken through the skin. Children have the risk of dying by drinking only 30 ml of methanol, and even smaller doses may cause blindness in adults. In general, many cases of methanol poisoning are due to illegal distilled alcohol and accidental ingestion, and in Iran people who believed that 'drinking works against the new coronavirus' drank brewed sake and 27 people died from methanol poisoning Has been reported.

27 people died from methanol poisoning believing that drinking alcohol works against the new coronavirus-GIGAZINE

In the body, methanol is metabolized to formaldehyde and then to formic acid . Since formaldehyde has a half-life in the body of about 1 minute and is rapidly metabolized to formic acid, the toxicity of formaldehyde is not a serious problem.However, formic acid-induced metabolic acidosis causes acid accumulation in the body and There is a risk of damage. In addition, since formic acid also accumulates in the optic nerve, it may cause serious damage such as permanent blindness.

By using a hand sanitizer containing methanol, symptoms such as nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, digestive system problems, headache, dizziness, blurred vision appear, and when it becomes severe, the heart rate decreases and kidney function. The FDA warns that it will lead to failure, loss of consciousness, and in the worst case death. Methanol poisoning is often caused by drinking or accidental ingestion of moonshine, but methanol is absorbed by the skin and may cause various symptoms.Therefore, if you inadvertently use a hand sanitizer containing methanol, immediately wash it with water. It needs to be washed away.

At the time of writing the article, it seems that the damage of methanol poisoning by hand disinfectant has not been reported, but if you are using Eskbiochem hand disinfectant, immediately stop using it and put it in an appropriate container for hazardous waste disposal. The FDA recommends discarding. “Don't flush these products down the drain,” FDA said.