CLEVELAND — The Ohio Department of Health has issued a firm warning when it comes to the use of methanol-based hand sanitizers.
On Tuesday afternoon, the Ohio Department of Health warned consumers about the presence of hand sanitizers that contain unlisted methanol as an ingredient. Methanol is a toxic alcohol that can cause poisoning when absorbed through the skin and blindness or death when swallowed.
According to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), there has been a sharp increase in hand sanitizer products that are labeled to contain the commonly used ethanol (also known as ethyl alcohol) but have tested positive for methanol contamination.
Amid the COVID-19 pandemic, hand sanitizer use has become very popular along with washing hands thoroughly as preventative measures to limit the spread of the virus.
Most commercially available alcohol-based hand sanitizers or rubs contain either ethanol or isopropanol asactive ingredients. Methanol (or wood alcohol) is not an acceptable active ingredient.
Repeated use of methanol-containing hand sanitizer on the skin may result in methanol poisoning. However, the highest risk is to people who swallow the products. This could include young children who accidentally swallow the sanitizer and adolescents or adults who intentionally swallow it as an alcohol substitute.
In a press release, the Department of Health announced that Ohio Governor Mike DeWine’s concern about poison prevention is long-standing. While serving in the U.S. Senate, he wrote the law that established the National Poison Control Center Hotline, 1-800-222-1222.
