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Research Article
Puleng Matatiele
National Institute for Occupational Health
Corresponding Author
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This work is licensed under a CC BY 4.0 License. Read Full License
Since the outbreak of the Coronavirus Disease 2019 (CoViD-19), the World Health Organization has recommended that, in the absence of soap and water, alcohol-based hand sanitizer can be used to prevent the transmission of coronaviruses. Unfortunately, many media reports indicate that majority of current alcohol-based hand sanitizers are substandard and some contain potentially toxic ingredients.
The study aimed to identify sanitizers used in the Johannesburg area that do not contain the WHO-recommended alcohol concentration of at least 70% propanol or 60% ethanol, and contain traces of toxic ingredients. Hand sanitizers were randomly collected from various traders around Johannesburg. The samples were analyzed using Agilent Auto sampler coupled to a gas chromatograph utilizing flame ionisation detection.
Of the 94 different hand sanitizers collected, three preparations were found to contain no alcohol, whereas the rest contained either ethanol or 2-propanol or a combination of the two. Of the alcohol-containing sanitizers, 37 (41%) contained less than 60% v/v alcohol. Ethyl acetate, isobutanol and other non-recommended alcohols (methanol, 1-propanol and 3-methyl-butanol) were also identified. Consumers are therefore warned that among the many brands of hand sanitizer found around Johannesburg, there are some substandard preparations and some that contain traces of toxic ingredients.
Keywords
CoViD-19, hand sanitizer, ethanol, 2-propanol, virucidal, toxic ingredients
Figure 1
No competing interests reported.
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CURRENT STATUS: Under Review
Version 1
Posted 18 Jun, 2021
No community comments so far
Editorial decision: Major revision
On 07 Sep, 2021
Reviews received
Received 30 Aug, 2021
Reviews received
Received 17 Aug, 2021
Reviewers agreed
On 10 Aug, 2021
Reviewers invited
Invitations sent on 09 Aug, 2021
Editor assigned
On 05 Aug, 2021
Editor invited
On 17 Jun, 2021
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On 16 Jun, 2021
First submitted
On 11 Jun, 2021
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A new preprint design is coming!
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This preprint is under consideration at Scientific Reports. A preprint is a preliminary version of a manuscript that has not completed peer review at a journal. Research Square does not conduct peer review prior to posting preprints. The posting of a preprint on this server should not be interpreted as an endorsement of its validity or suitability for dissemination as established information or for guiding clinical practice.
Learn more about In Review
Research Article
Puleng Matatiele
National Institute for Occupational Health
Corresponding Author
Badges
Prescreen
This manuscript passed our Prescreen assessment
Complete author information
Appropriate declaration statements
Potential risks to human health
Prescreen
Peer Review Timeline
CURRENT STATUS: Under Review
Version 1
Posted 18 Jun, 2021
No community comments so far
Editorial decision: Major revision
On 07 Sep, 2021
Reviews received
Received 30 Aug, 2021
Reviews received
Received 17 Aug, 2021
Reviewers agreed
On 10 Aug, 2021
Reviewers invited
Invitations sent on 09 Aug, 2021
Editor assigned
On 05 Aug, 2021
Editor invited
On 17 Jun, 2021
Submission checks complete
On 16 Jun, 2021
First submitted
On 11 Jun, 2021
Metrics
Comments: 0
PDF Downloads: ...
HTML Views: ...
License:
This work is licensed under a CC BY 4.0 License. Read Full License
Since the outbreak of the Coronavirus Disease 2019 (CoViD-19), the World Health Organization has recommended that, in the absence of soap and water, alcohol-based hand sanitizer can be used to prevent the transmission of coronaviruses. Unfortunately, many media reports indicate that majority of current alcohol-based hand sanitizers are substandard and some contain potentially toxic ingredients.
The study aimed to identify sanitizers used in the Johannesburg area that do not contain the WHO-recommended alcohol concentration of at least 70% propanol or 60% ethanol, and contain traces of toxic ingredients. Hand sanitizers were randomly collected from various traders around Johannesburg. The samples were analyzed using Agilent Auto sampler coupled to a gas chromatograph utilizing flame ionisation detection.
Of the 94 different hand sanitizers collected, three preparations were found to contain no alcohol, whereas the rest contained either ethanol or 2-propanol or a combination of the two. Of the alcohol-containing sanitizers, 37 (41%) contained less than 60% v/v alcohol. Ethyl acetate, isobutanol and other non-recommended alcohols (methanol, 1-propanol and 3-methyl-butanol) were also identified. Consumers are therefore warned that among the many brands of hand sanitizer found around Johannesburg, there are some substandard preparations and some that contain traces of toxic ingredients.
Figure 1
No competing interests reported.
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