(English Translation)

This is to inform the public that the Integrated Chemists of the Philippines (ICP) is the only entity authorized by the Professional Regulation Commission to accept orders for the registered chemist seal. Registered chemists who wish to purchase their own chemist seal must place their orders only through the ICP.

The ICP calls on all registered chemists to abide by the Code of Ethics for the Chemistry Profession and NOT engage in the purchasing of chemist seals through unauthorized entities or illegal means.

(Pagsasalin sa Filipino)

Inaabisuhan ang lahat na ang Integrated Chemists of the Philippines (ICP) ang tanging pinagkalooban ng Professional Regulation Commission upang gumawa ng registered chemist seal. Ang mga registered chemist na nais kumuha at bumili ng kanilang chemist seal ay dapat makipag-ugnayan sa ICP.

Tinatawagan ng ICP ang lahat ng mga registered chemist na tumalima sa Code of Ethics for the Chemistry Profession at HUWAG bumili ng chemist seal mula sa hindi awtorisadong mga tao o sa ilegal na mga pamamaraan.

(English Translation)

Official Statement of the Integrated Chemists of the Philippines (ICP) on the Use of Chemicals to Clean Face Masks and Other PPEs

The Integrated Chemists of the Philippines (ICP) wishes to advise the public to follow the manufacturer’s specification on the proper use and care of face masks. For washable cloth face masks, use detergent or soap and water.

The ICP does not recommend the use of gasoline or diesel to clean face masks or other personal protective equipment (PPE).

All grades of gasoline are considered hazardous with immediate (acute) and long-term (chronic) effects to health. Gasoline contains compounds, such as benzene, toluene, ethylbenzene, xylene (BTEX) and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAH), which are toxic and/or carcinogenic.

Gasoline is also a skin and eye irritant, may affect the central nervous system, and may be harmful or fatal if swallowed.

(Pagsasalin sa Filipino)

Opisyal na Pahayag ng ICP Tungkol sa Paggamit ng Mga Kemikal Sa Panlinis ng Mga Face Mask at Iba Pang Mga Personal Protective Equipment (PPE)

Ang Integrated Chemists of the Philippines (ICP) ay nais na magpayo sa publiko na sundin ang wastong paggamit at pangangalaga ng mga face mask ayon sa payo ng manufacturer. Para sa mga face mask na maaaring hugasan (washable face masks), gumamit lang ng sabon o sabong pandamit at tubig.

Hindi inirerekumenda ng ICP ang paggamit ng gasolina o diesel bilang panlinis ng mga face mask o iba pang personal protective equipment (PPE).

Ang lahat ng uri ng gasolina ay maituturing na mapanganib na nagdudulot ng masamang epekto sa kalusugan. Naglalaman ang gasolina ng mga sangkap tulad ng BTEX (benzene, toluene, ethylbenzene, xylene) at PAH (polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons) na nakalalason at nagiging sanhi ng kanser.

Ang gasolina ay nagdudulot din ng pangangati ng balat at mata, at maaaring makaapekto sa central nervous system. Mapanganib at posibleng makamatay din ang mga ito kapag nalunok.

References / Mga Sanggunian:

1. OSHA MSDS (Gasoline)
2. UP National Poison Management and Control Center (https://www.facebook.com/upnpmcc/)
3. E Reese and R D Kimbrough, Acute toxicity of gasoline and some additives. Environ Health Perspect. 1993; 101(Suppl 6): 115–131.
4. Medical Management Guidelines for Gasoline, Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry, US Center for Disease Control (https://www.atsdr.cdc.gov/MMG/MMG.asp?id=465&tid=83)

(English Translation)

Official Statement of the Integrated Chemists of the Philippines (ICP) Regarding the Preparation of Disinfectants and Other Chemicals

Many individuals, including chemists, have taken the initiative to assist in COVID-19 efforts by preparing alcohol and other disinfectant products. While we support your initiative, we, as chemists, have a special responsibility to ensure that the solutions that we prepare meet the right specifications that ensure their efficacy and safety. In particular:

• Regarding ethanol and isopropanol: from analytical data that we have obtained by gas chromatography (GC), many of the technical grade ethanol and isopropanol products sold by chemical suppliers may contain high levels of methanol or are below the claimed concentration. You should obtain your alcohols from reliable sources only. If in doubt, have the raw material analyzed by GC or ask for a certificate of analysis.

• Hypochlorite is an industrial product and may contain impurities. It may be adulterated by unscrupulous dealers. There are standard methods of chemical analysis for hypochlorite. Also, ensure that your product is used to disinfect objects and is not used on people.

• Consult only reliable sources for technical information and observe restrictions set by the World Health Organization (WHO) and relevant Philippine government agencies.

(Pagsasalin sa Filipino)

Opisyal na Pahayag ng ICP Tungkol sa Pagtimpla ng Mga Disinfectant at Iba Pang Produkto

May mga tao, kabilang ang ilang mga kimiko, na kusang umaalalay sa ilang mga pagsisikap upang labanan ang COVID-19 sa pamamagitan ng pagtimpla ng rubbing alcohol at iba pang produkto na makapupuksa ng mikrobyo. Habang sinusuportahan namin ang mga hangaring ito, kami, bilang mga kimiko, ay may natatanging tungkulin upang masiguro na ang tinitimpla naming mga produkto ay tugma sa itinakdang antas ng bisa at ligtas ring gamitin.

• Tungkol sa ethyl alcohol at isopropyl alcohol: Mula sa datos na nakalap namin gamit ang gas chromatography (GC), karamihan sa mga technical grade na ethanol at isopropanol na binebenta ng mga chemical supplier ay naglalaman ng mataas na antas ng methanol o kaya'y hindi man lang umabot sa isinaad na tapang. Upang maiwasan ito, siguruhing maaasahan ang inyong pagkukuhanan. Kung kaduda-duda ang iyong nabiling produkto, ipasuri ito gamit ang GC o humingi ng certificate of analysis.

• Ang hypochlorite ay isang kemikal na ginagamit sa industriya at maaaring naglalaman ito ng karumihan. Maaaring pang maglagay ng mga hindi kanais-nais na sangkap ang mga nagbebenta nito upang makalinlang. Mayroong mga tamang pamamaraan upang masuri ang kalidad ng hypochlorite. Siguruhin din na ang mga produktong naglalaman nito ay nakalaan lamang gamiting panlinis ng mga bagay, at hindi ng mga tao.

• Sumangguni lamang sa maaasahang mga pagkukunan ng impormasyon tungkol dito at sunding mabuti ang mga inilahad na utos ng WHO at mga angkop na ahensya ng pamahalaan.

(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.