What should I look for in a hand sanitiser?
Team Udayavani, Sep 8, 2020, 1:20 PM IST
Washington: Pick one that contains mostly alcohol, and has few other ingredients.
The US Centres for Disease Control and Prevention says hand sanitisers should be at least 60 per cent ethyl alcohol or 70 per cent isopropyl alcohol. Other approved ingredients may include sterile distilled water, hydrogen peroxide and glycerin, according to the US Food and Drug Administration.
You should avoid anything with methanol or 1-propanol, both of which can be highly toxic. The FDA also warns people to watch out for hand sanitisers packaged in food and drink containers, since accidentally ingesting them could be dangerous.
Health officials also say to avoid hand sanitisers that replace alcohol with benzalkonium chloride, which is less effective at killing certain bacteria and viruses. Making your own sanitisers isn’t encouraged either; the wrong mix of chemicals can be ineffective or cause skin burns.
And you should only use hand sanitiser when you can’t wash your hands with soap and water, says Barun Mathema, an infectious disease researcher at Columbia University. Hand washing is better at removing more germs.
Udayavani is now on Telegram. Click here to join our channel and stay updated with the latest news.
Top News
Related Articles More
Common Causes of Back Pain and How to Prevent It
Trying to lose weight? Here’s why your genetics could be just as important as your exercise regime
Gazing at your dog can connect your brain with theirs, research shows
Researchers sound alarm on ‘irreversible climate disaster’, Earth’s 25 vital signs hit extremes
High levels of heat found to affect foetuses, infants up to age 2: Study
MUST WATCH
Latest Additions
Bantwal: Unidentified miscreants assault boy near Koornadka
Ramanagara/Madikeri: Lecturers misbehave with students after making them consume alcohol during trip
Koppal: Man names meat shop after Union Minister Shobha Karandlaje
Geethartha Chinthane 67: Krishna’s strategy to destroy Arjuna’s ego
Bus ticket prices soar amid Deepavali season rush
Thanks for visiting Udayavani
You seem to have an Ad Blocker on.
To continue reading, please turn it off or whitelist Udayavani.