Toxicology of alcohol-based hand rubs formulated with technical-grade ethanol

• Published in: Toxicology reports 2021-01, Vol.8, p.785-792
• Main Authors: Tse, Timothy J., Purdy, Sarah K., Shen, Jianheng, Nelson, Fina B., Mustafa, Rana, Wiens, Daniel J., Reaney, Martin J.T.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Acetaldehyde; Contaminants; COVID-19; Ethanol; Hand sanitizer; Regular; Technical-Grade
• ISSN: 2214-7500; 2214-7500
• DOI: 10.1016/j.toxrep.2021.03.034

[Display omitted] •Alcohol-based hand rubs formulated with technical-grade ethanol can increase exposure to alcoholic impurities.•Inexperienced manufacturers may introduce additional contaminants into the product.•More vigilant policing should be employed to ensure compliancy, safety and efficacy. Alcohol-based hand rubs (ABHRs) formulated with technical-grade ethanol were temporarily permitted in Canada and the U.S beginning April 2020 to meet the current demand due to COVID-19. ABHRs formulated with technical-grade ethanol are low risk for general use. In this review, we discuss the toxicity of common contaminants found in technical-grade ethanol, as well as contaminants that may have been introduced into the products during formulation and packaging of ABHRs. Although primary route of exposure is via dermal absorption and inhalation, there have been reported elevated concerns regarding to ingestion of ABHRs. Overall, the highest risks were associated with methanol (for its toxicity), ethyl acetate (skin defattening), and acetaldehyde (carcinogenic and teratogenic). For these reasons Health Canada and the United States Food and Drug Administration have issued recalls on products containing some of these contaminants. More vigilant policing by regulatory agencies and general product users are required to ensure compliance, safety, and efficacy of these new products, as demand continue to rise during this unprecedented pandemic.