Hand sanitizer containing methanol considered dangerous

OLYMPIA — Government agencies are warning the public about the dangers of hand sanitizers containing methanol.

The Washington State Department of Labor & Industries issued a notice on Monday, July 6, relaying information from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration and U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, which named a manufacturer of hand sanitizer that may contain methanol.

The FDA advises consumers not to use any hand sanitizer manufactured by “Eskbiochem SA de CV” in Mexico, due to the potential presence of methanol, a toxic alcohol, that is used as an active ingredient. It can cause blindness or death when absorbed through the skin or when swallowed. The FDA has identified additional ABHSR products that contain methanol and is working with manufacturers and distributors on a voluntary recall of these products.

Commercially available ABHSR usually contain either ethanol or isopropanol. However, some ABHSR that were manufactured in Mexico have been found to contain a significant amount of methanol, the notice states. Repeated use of these products on the skin may result in methanol poisoning. The highest risk is from swallowing ABHSR products containing methanol.

Alcohol-based hand sanitizers and rubs are not meant to be swallowed. The chemicals in them are not intended for human consumption and can lead to serious health issues, including death.

Only use alcohol-based hand sanitizers or rubs for their intended purpose — to clean hands.

Keep alcohol-based hand sanitizers or rubs out of reach of children and supervise their use.

Signs and symptoms to watch for include headache, blurred vision or blindness, nausea, vomiting, abdominal pain, loss of coordination and decreased alertness. Anyone who swallows alcohol-based hand sanitizer or rub or are experiencing symptoms from repeated use of these products on the skin should contact the poison control center at 1-800-222-1222.

Check hand sanitizer products against the FDA’s testing and manufacturer’s recalls list online. If a product is on this list, stop using the product and dispose of it immediately in appropriate hazardous waste containers. Do not flush or pour down the drain.