Hand Sanitizers Require 70% Ethanol

(English Translation)

Over the past few days, a number of YouTube and Facebook posts have appeared proposing the use of various distilled alcoholic products (such as lambanog, rhum, vodka) with bleach (made of hypochlorite) as hand sanitizer. The Integrated Chemists of the Philippines (ICP) wishes to inform the public that such alcoholic products contain only about 40% alcohol and lack the concentration needed for a hand sanitizer. In addition, hypochlorite can cause skin irritation and inflammation.

Such products which are below the required 70% alcohol concentration should NOT BE USED as hand sanitizer. The preparation of hand sanitizers using bleach or hypochlorite should be done by trained professionals, such as chemists, pharmacists, chemical engineers, or medical technologists.

(Pagsasalin sa Filipino)

Nitong nakaraang mga araw, may naglipanang mga video sa Youtube at Facebook na naglalahad kung paano gamitin ang ilang mga produktong naglalaman ng alkohol (tulad ng lambanog, rhum, at vodka) at hinahaluan ng bleach (na gawa sa hypochlorite) upang maging hand sanitizer. Nais ipabatid ng ICP na ang mga nabanggit na produktong naglalaman ng alkohol ay kinasasangkapan ng 40% na alkohol lamang, na sadyang mahina upang gawing hand sanitizer. Ang hypochlorite naman ay nagdudulot ng pangangati at pamamaga ng balat.

Ang mga produktong may mas mababa sa 70% na sangkap na alkohol ay HINDI MAAARING GAMITIN bilang hand sanitizer. Samantala, ang pagtitimpla ng mga hand sanitizer gamit ang bleach o hypochlorite ay maaari lamang gawin ng mga tao na may sapat na pagsasanay tulad ng mga chemist, pharmacist, chemical engineer, o medical technologist.

Posted in Advisory.