Diane Calello, executive and medical director of the New Jersey Poison Center and professor at the Rutgers New Jersey Medical School, is available to discuss the dangers of methanol in hand sanitizer products, following an FDA warning that the toxic chemical has been found in hand sanitizers that are labeled to contain ethanol.
“Hand sanitizers have become popular as people try to keep themselves safe from COVID-19, but if they contain methanol, they can be highly toxic and life-threatening if inhaled, absorbed through the skin or ingested,” said Calello. “If you suspect you’ve been exposed to a hand sanitizer with methanol – or have ingested any hand sanitizers including those that contain the approved chemical ethanol – please call your local poison control center at 1-800-222-1222 immediately.”
A list of hand sanitizer companies and products containing methanol can be found here.
About RBHS
Rutgers Biomedical and Health Sciences (RBHS) takes an integrated approach to educating students, providing clinical care and conducting research, all with the goal of improving human health. Aligned with Rutgers University–New Brunswick, and collaborating university-wide, RBHS includes eight schools, a behavioral health network and four centers and institutes. RBHS offers an outstanding education in medicine, dentistry, pharmacy, public health, nursing, biomedical research and the full spectrum of allied health careers. RBHS clinical and academic facilities are located throughout the state.
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