Side-effects Of Toxic Sanitizers: An Unforeseen Threat To Our Future

What exactly do I mean when I say “noxious sanitizers”? The whole world considers sanitizer as a life-saver (especially after the pandemic), but do I have different thoughts? Yes, recent studies show that noxious sanitizers can kill viruses, but that overexposure to them causes the most deadly diseases such as cancer, liver damage, cardiac arrests, respiratory disorders, and so on.

The FDA has also issued a hand sanitizer recall list to ensure that consumers are not exposed to any toxic hand sanitizers. FDA keeps updating this list of recalled hand sanitizers. It’s now more important than ever to take a close look at this unforeseen threat to our future.

Common Health Issues With Sanitizers

When I talk about harmful sanitizers, a plethora of common health issues pop up in our minds. Here are a few of them, but after them, I will discuss some specific health risks that can even result in death.

• Skin Irritation

When it comes to sanitizer side effects on the skin, irritation is the first thing that comes to mind. Alcohol-based sanitizer’s drying and chapping effect on the skin is common.

• Eye Irritation

The toxic composition of hand sanitizers can cause eye irritation, and many previous incidents have demonstrated the same.

• Poisoning

Alcohol-based sanitizers can be poisonous, causing sanitizer poisoning. Before you get sanitizer poisoning symptoms and rush for the sanitizer poisoning treatment better start avoiding alcohol-based sanitizers.

• Dehydration

Dehydration is one of the alcohol sanitizer side effects. Alcohol dries out the skin and hits human bodies with dehydration.

• Respiration Dysfunction

The respiratory system is also disrupted when disinfectants or sanitizers are sprayed through a fogging machine. Inhaling small toxic particles can obstruct our airways.

• Disruption Of Microbiomes

There are good and bad microbes, but some sanitizers eliminate the good microbes along with the bad ones. Mostly, ingredients like alcohol disrupt microbiomes.

• Eczema

Most sanitizers dehydrate the skin, which causes Eczema, only a natural hand sanitizer for eczema can save your skin.

• Hair Damage

Alcohol-based sanitizers are not safe for hair, no matter if they are marketed as a “hair sanitizer”, because they dry out the skin (scalp) and have a negative impact on hair nutrition absorption.

Toxic Components Causing Deadly Diseases

Beyond the common problems, there are some serious issues caused by sanitizers as a result of toxic elements in them. Some of them are proven, and some of them are still under research. Harmful components that are currently being studied have the potential to cause the most deadly diseases to humans. They are as follows:

Triclosan

Triclosan can be the biggest risk in the future if we talk about the hazardous components of sanitizers. Basically, a chemical with antibacterial properties and is known for its ability to kill germs, but the following are some serious issues that Triclosan causes.

• Triclosan is an antibiotic chemical found in Toxic Hand-Sanitizers

• It disrupts the endocrine gland, causing the thyroid gland to fluctuate

• It affects the reproductive hormones to fluctuate

• Puts children at a higher risk of developing allergies, asthma, and eczema

Antibiotic Resistance

Overexposure to hand sanitizers containing Trclosan helps bacteria to develop resistance against antibiotics, according to NCBI.

Hormone Disturbance

Triclosan can disturb hormones and this disturbance causes many diseases. Triclosan exposure, according to a study, causes a variety of hormone disruptions, including modulating estrogen-dependent responses, suppressing thyroid, and affecting testosterone levels.

Can It Be Toxic For Infants? Still A Doubt

Studies show that Triclosan absorbed through skin goes to human breast milk and can reach infants. However, the study implies that the exposure is below NOAEL (No-observed-adverse-effect level), so it is not that risky, but research hasn’t said anything about the risk associated with exceeded exposure, so there is still a doubt.

Impacts Fertility

Triclosan also has negative effects on fertility and the reproductive system, because it weakens testes, sex organs, and decreases sperm density as per a study.

Alcohol

The majority of alcohol-based sanitizers contain up to or more than 60% alcohol; the higher the alcohol content, the greater the risk. However, there are some alcohol-free sanitizers too, but the alcohol-based products are dominant. After knowing the reality of alcohol sanitizers, nobody might prefer using them. Following are some risks that alcohol brings, while used in sanitizers:

• Alcohol-based Hand-Sanitizers can cause dry, flaky & itchy skin

• It can impact your vision and result in a blurry vision

• It can even give you headaches, nausea, and dizziness

• Always look for an organic, alcohol-free sanitizer

Phthalates & Parabens

Phthalates and Parabens are also harmful elements being found in some toxic hand sanitizers. Phthalates disrupt the endocrine system causing infertility and impacting human body development. Parabens are chemicals bringing the same side effects.

• Phthalates: Manufacturers use phthalates to help dissolve other ingredients into a consistent solution, to make nail polishes less brittle, and to keep hair spray from making hair too stiff
• Parabens: Manufacturers use them as preservatives in pharmaceutical and cosmetic products and in the food industry

Do you really want to be using these products multiple times in your daily life?

Benzene

Benzene is also found in many sanitizers and FDA restricted its use. If you are in a part of the world where Benzene-containing sanitizers are still being used, then stop using them now because Benzene can cause the deadliest diseases like cancer.

• Benzene is a highly inflammable chemical that is a colorless or light yellow liquid at room temperature

• According to some authorities like Full-Form (FDA), it is found in many Hand-Sanitizers

• Long-term exposure to high levels of benzene can cause leukemia, cancer of the blood-forming organs

Ethanolamine

Ethanolamine is part of most sanitizers because it plays a significant role in pH adjustments, but it is harmful to the liver according to a guideline by CDC.

• Ethanolamine is a colorless, viscous liquid with an odor reminiscent of ammonia

• It manipulates pH levels in Toxic Sanitizer

• Ethanolamine can irritate the nose, throat, & lungs causing coughing, wheezing, or shortness of breath

• As per the Centre for Disease Control (CDC), it is also harmful to the liver

Butane

Butane compound is used in sanitizers because of its vaporizing property that helps sanitizer to come out of the packaging container, but overexposure to it can cause cardiac reactions.

• Butane is a vaporizing agent in Toxic Hand-Sanitizers

• It is highly flammable and can cause chemical burns

• It is also known to cause Brain damage, tremors, and seizors

• It has a very negative impact on the Cardiovascular system

Bleach

Bleach is used for purifying water and disinfecting different surfaces, but bleach can be harmful to the respiratory system of the human body.

Bleach is a chemical (typically a solution of sodium hypochlorite or hydrogen peroxide) used to make materials whiter or for sterilizing drains, sinks, etc

It is known to cause Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) & Asthma

COPD

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disorder (COPD) means irritation to the airways, shortness of breath due to the chemical chlorine found in bleach.

Asthma

Bleach causes another severe respiratory disease such as Asthma. Overexposure to bleach can trouble asthmatic patients very badly.

It’s Your Choice!

Currently, there are no deadliest diseases witnessed due to sanitizers, but researches and experiments prove that toxic sanitizers can cause the deadliest diseases in the future. A water-based sanitizer containing HOCl (Hypochlorous Acid) has zero side effects. HOCl comprises only three elements: water, salt, and electricity.

Be a hero! Share this post with others to save the world by eliminating the usage of such toxic compounds in sanitizers. Choose the safest and all-natural HOCl based sanitizer.

Pankaj Rai