By Ralph Ellis, WebMD News Brief
The FDA says consumers should not use ArtNaturals hand sanitizers because they contain “unacceptable levels” of the cancerous chemicals benzene, acetaldehyde, and acetal contaminants.
Consumers should throw out the hand sanitizer, preferably in a hazardous waste container, and they should not flush it down a toilet or pour it down a drain, the FDA said in a news release.
“Benzene may cause certain types of cancer in humans. Animal studies show acetaldehyde may cause cancer in humans and may cause serious illness or death. Acetal can irritate the upper respiratory tract, eyes, and skin,” the FDA said in the release.
The FDA said it issued the warning on Monday because ArtNaturals had not responded to requests to discuss the products and to issue a recall.
The FDA added ArtNaturals’ products to a list of other hand sanitizers the public is advised not to use. Since the coronavirus pandemic began, the agency has seen an increase in products containing methanol, or wood alcohol.
Methanol can be toxic when absorbed through the skin or ingested and can be life-threatening when ingested, the FDA said.
CBS News reported that Coppertone recently recalled five aerosol sunscreens because they contain benzene and other chemicals.