Your Hand Sanitizers May Be Laced with Harmful Chemicals

The FDA released a warning on  July 27, 2020 urging consumers to avoid 90 different hand sanitizer products since they contain deadly ingredients when ingested or applied anywhere on the body. The list continues to increase every month.  In June, the FDA warned consumers not to use only nine kinds of hand sanitizers. Now that figure is over 10 times larger. 

One of the biggest avoiders commonly found in most hand sanitizers is methanol (also called wood alcohol).  Others include ethyl alcohol and isopropyl alcohol.

With more than 20 million tons produced annually, methanol is used in the industry as a solvent, pesticide, and alternative fuel source. It is usually ingested together with or in place of intended ethanol (the alcohol in beverages). In fact, as little as 10 mL of pure methanol exposure can cause permanent blindness by destroying the optic nerve; 30 mL is potentially fatal (Vale, 2007). 

Methanol damages the brain and spinal cord similar to alcohol. Exposure directly to the skin can cause nausea, vomiting, headache, blurred vision/ blindness, seizures, permanent damage to the body’s neurons, coma, or even death. 

Methanol is toxic since it turns into formaldehyde, acetic acid, methyl tert-butyl ether, as well as a host of more specialised chemicals when metabolized by the liver. These toxic metabolites turn off a critical enzyme in the mitochondria of cells which prevents cellular energy production. Methanol starves cells of oxygen.   Methanol turns the blood acidic and kills cells!!  

Many of the deadly ingredients in hand sanitizers are not listed on the product label.  The FDA claims it has taken steps to prevent the products from entering the country by placing them on an import alert, but they still appear to be spilling in anyways. 

Market demands for hand sanitizers to presumptively combat COVID19 since February has led to a huge spike in the number of "adverse events, including blindness, heart and central nervous system damage, hospitalizations and death”.  This makes sense given methanol’s mechanism of action.  

Due to a shortage in common brands like Purell, many new types of hand sanitizers have entered the marketplace. The rush in production has bypassed critical screening practices and allowed many to enter which are contaminated with methanol contamination and dangerous. 

Find more information about all 100+ (and growing) hand sanitizers to avoid, including the product code where available, on the FDA website. This list is updated monthly. Please avoid the following products:

 

  • Eskbiochem's All-Clean Hand Sanitizer

  • Eskbiochem's Lavar 70 Gel Hand Sanitizer

  • Eskbiochem's Esk Biochem Hand Sanitizer

  • Eskbiochem's The Good Gel Antibacterial Gel Hand Sanitizer

  • Eskbiochem's CleanCare NoGerm Advanced Hand Sanitizer 75% Alcohol

  • Eskbiochem's CleanCare NoGerm Advanced Hand Sanitizer 80% Alcohol

  • Eskbiochem's CleanCare NoGerm Advanced Hand Sanitizer 80% Alcohol

  • Eskbiochem's Saniderm Advanced Hand Sanitizer

  • Grupo Insoma's Hand sanitizer Gel Unscented 70% Alcohol

  • Mystic International's Mystic Shield Protection hand sanitizer

  • Cosmeticas' Antiseptic Alcohol 70% Topical Solution hand sanitizer

  • Cosmeticas' Bersih Hand Sanitizer Gel Fragrance Free

  • Tropicosmeticos' Be Safe Hand Sanitizer

  • Tropicosmeticos' Wave Hand Sanitizer Gel

  • Tropicosmeticos' Cleaner Hand Sanitizer Rinse Free 70%    

  • Tropicosmeticos' Handzer Hand Sanitizer Rinse Free

  • Tropicosmeticos' Urbane Bath and Body Hand Sanitizer    

  • Tropicosmeticos' Britz Hand Sanitizer Ethyl Alcohol 70%    

  • Tropicosmeticos' Parabola Hand Sanitizer  

  • Tropicosmeticos' Kleanz Antibacterial Hand Sanitizer Advanced

  • AAA Cosmetica's bio aaa Advance Hand Sanitizer 

  • AAA Cosmetica's QualitaMed Hand Sanitizer  

  • AAA Cosmetica's LumiSkin Advance Hand Sanitizer 4 oz

  • AAA Cosmetica's LumiSkin Advance Hand Sanitizer 16 oz

  • 4E Global's Blumen Advanced Instant Hand Sanitizer Clear Ethyl Alcohol 70%

  • 4E Global's Blumen Clear Advanced Hand Sanitizer with 70% Alcohol

  • 4E Global's BLUMEN Advanced Hand Sanitizer

  • 4E Global's BLUMEN Advanced Hand Sanitizer

  • 4E Global's BLUMEN Advanced Hand Sanitizer Aloe

  • 4E Global's Blumen Advanced Hand Sanitizer Aloe, with 70% alcohol

  • 4E Global's BLUMEN Advanced Hand Sanitizer Clear

  • 4E Global's Blumen Advanced Hand Sanitizer Lavender, with 70% alcohol

  • 4E Global's BLUMEN Advanced Instant Hand Sanitizer Clear

  • 4E Global's BLUMEN Advanced Instant Hand Sanitizer Clear

  • 4E Global's BLUMEN Advanced Instant Hand Sanitizer Lavender

  • 4E Global's BLUMEN Aloe Advanced Hand Sanitizer, with 70 Alcohol

  • 4E Global's BLUMEN Aloe Advanced Hand Sanitizer, with 70 Alcohol

  • 4E Global's Blumen Antibacterial Fresh Citrus Hand Sanitizer

  • 4E Global's BLUMEN Clear Advanced Hand Sanitizer

  • 4E Global's BLUMEN Clear Advanced Hand Sanitizer

  • 4E Global's BLUMEN Clear Advanced Instant Hand Sanitizer

  • 4E Global's BLUMEN Clear Advanced Instant Hand Sanitizer Aloe

  • 4E Global's BLUMEN Clear Advanced Instant Hand Sanitizer Lavender

  • 4E Global's BLUMEN Clear LEAR Advanced Hand Sanitizer

  • 4E Global's BLUMEN Clear LEAR Advanced Hand Sanitizer

  • 4E Global's Blumen Hand Sanitizer Fresh Citrus

  • 4E Global's BLUMEN Instant Hand Sanitizer Aloe Vera

  • 4E Global's BLUMEN Instant Hand Sanitizer Fragrance Free

  • 4E Global's Hello Kitty Hand Sanitizer

  • 4E Global's The Honeykeeper Hand Sanitizer

  • 4E Global's Assured Aloe

  • 4E Global's Assured Instant Hand Sanitizer (Aloe and Moisturizers)

  • 4E Global's Assured Instant Hand Sanitizer (Vitamin E and Aloe)

  • 4E Global's Assured Instant Hand Sanitizer Aloe and Moisturizers

  • 4E Global's Assured Instant Hand Sanitizer Vitamin E and Aloe

  • 4E Global's KLAR and DANVER Instant Hand Sanitizer

  • 4E Global's KLAR AND DANVER Instant Hand Sanitizer (labeled with Greenbrier International Inc.)

  • 4E Global's MODESA Instant Hand Sanitizer Moisturizers and Vitamin E

  • DDI Multinacional's Earths Amenities Instant Unscented Hand Sanitizer with Aloe Vera Advanced

  • DDI Multinacional's Hand Sanitizer Agavespa Skincare

  • DDI Multinacional's Vidanos Easy Cleaning Rentals Hand Sanitizer Agavespa Skincare

  • Limpo Quimicos' Andy's

  • Limpo Quimicos' Andy's Best

  • Limpo Quimicos' NeoNatural

  • Limpo Quimicos' Plus Advanced

  • Liqesa Exportacion or Liq-E's Optimus Lubricants Instant Hand Sanitizer

  • Maquiladora Miniara's Selecto Hand Sanitizer

  • Maquiladora Miniara's Shine and Clean Hand Sanitizer

  • Cosmeticas' Hand Sanitizer Gel Alcohol 70%

  • Yara Elena De La Garza Perez Nieto's   DAESI Hand Sanitizer

  • Real Clean Distribuciones' Cavalry

  • Real Clean Distribuciones' ENLIVEN Hand Sanitizing Gel

  • Real Clean Distribuciones' Lux Eoi Hand Sanitizing Gel

  • Real Clean Distribuciones' Born Basic Anti-Bac Hand Sanitizer 65% Alcohol

  • Real Clean Distribuciones' Born Basic Anti-Bac Hand Sanitizer 70% alcohol

  • Real Clean Distribuciones' Scent Theory - Keep It Clean - Pure Clean Anti-bacterial Hand Sanitizer

  • Real Clean Distribuciones' Scent Theory - Keep It Clean - Pure Clean Anti-bacterial Hand Sanitizer

  • MXL Comercial's Hand Sanitizer Disinfectant Gel 70% Ethyl Alcohol

  • MXL Comercial's Hand Sanitizer Disinfectant Gel 70% Ethyl Alcohol Rinse Free Hand Rub

  • Liqesa Exportacion or Liq-E's Optimus Instant Hand Sanitizer

  • Liqesa Exportacion or Liq-E's Optimus Instant Hand Sanitizer

  • Broncolin's Herbacil Antiseptic Hand Sanitizer 70% Alcohol

  • Broncolin's Herbacil Antiseptic Hand Sanitizer 70% Alcohol

  • Broncolin's Herbacil Antiseptic Hand Sanitizer 70%  Alcohol

  • Laboratorios Jaloma's Jaloma Antiseptic Hand Sanitizer Ethyl Alcohol 62% with Vitamin E

  • Leiper's Fork Distillery Bulk Disinfectant per 5 gallon

  • Leiper's Fork Distillery 16-ounce bottle

  • Healthy Foods & Nutrition Lab de Mexico's Medicare Alcohol Antiseptic Topical Solution

  • Incredible Products' GelBact Hand Sanitizer

  • Incredible Products' Hand Sanitizer

  • Incredible Products' TriCleanz

  • JG Atlas Comercios' Sayab Antisepctic Hand Sanitizer 100

  • Tritanium Labs USA's TriCleanz Tritanium Labs Hand Sanitizer

  • Albek de Mexico's NEXT Hand Sanitizer

  • Albek de Mexico's Clear Advanced Hand Sanitizer with 70% Alcohol extra soft with glycerin and aloe

  • Albek de Mexico's NuuxSan Instant Antibacterial Hand Sanitizer

  • Albek de Mexico's NuuxSan Instant Hand Sanitizer

  • Albek de Mexico's Assured Instant Antiseptic Hand Sanitizer with Aloe and Moisturizers

  • Albek de Mexico's Assured Instant Antiseptic Hand Sanitizer with Vitamin E and Aloe

  • Albek de Mexico's Modesa Instant Antiseptic Hand Sanitizer with Moisturizers and Aloe Vera

  • Albek de Mexico's Modesa Instant Antiseptic Hand Sanitizer with Moisturizers and Vitamin E

 

The Solution is easy!!  Use plant oil-derived soaps such as Dr. Bronner’s Castille soap and water for handwashing. 

Avoid hand sanitizers since many of their ingredients are toxic, dehydrating, and increasing risk of dangerous side effects.  


Dr. Bhandari Is Here to Support Your Health.

As one of nation’s top integrative functional medicine physicians, Dr. Bhandari work with patients suffering from chronic health concerns which modern medicine can only provide side effect-ridden solutions without a cure. By taking the best in Eastern and Western Medicine, Dr. Bhandari understands the root cause of diseases on a cellular level and designs personalized treatment plans which drive positive results. Reach out to SF Advanced Health to learn more.


References 

Fiedler, E., Grossmann, G., Kersebohm, D. B., Weiss, G., & Witte, C. (2000). Methanol. Ullmann's encyclopedia of industrial chemistry.

Liesivuori J, Savolainen H (September 1991). "Methanol and formic acid toxicity: biochemical mechanisms". Pharmacol. Toxicol. 69 (3): 157–63.

McMartin KE, Martin-Amat G, Noker PE, Tephly TR (1979). "Lack of a role for formaldehyde in methanol poisoning in the monkey". Biochem. Pharmacol. 28 (5): 645–9.

Schep LJ, Slaughter RJ, Vale JA, Beasley DM (2009). "A seaman with blindness and confusion". BMJ. 339:

Vale A (2007). "Methanol". Medicine. 35 (12): 633–4.

AUTHOR

Dr. Payal Bhandari M.D. is one of U.S.'s top leading integrative functional medical physicians and the founder of SF Advanced Health. She combines the best in Eastern and Western Medicine to understand the root causes of diseases and provide patients with personalized treatment plans that quickly deliver effective results. Dr. Bhandari specializes in cell function to understand how the whole body works. Dr. Bhandari received her Bachelor of Arts degree in biology in 1997 and Doctor of Medicine degree in 2001 from West Virginia University. She the completed her Family Medicine residency in 2004 from the University of Massachusetts and joined a family medicine practice in 2005 which was eventually nationally recognized as San Francisco’s 1st patient-centered medical home. To learn more, go to www.sfadvancedhealth.com.