Impacts of hand sanitizer on human health and environment: a review

Although the use of sanitizer starts around the middle of twentieth century but it becomes popular in early twenty first century (second decade of twenty first century during COVID-19 pandemic). To prevent the spread of COVID-19, World Health Organisation (WHO) recommended the use of sanitizers mad...

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Main Authors: Shashi Bala, Faheem Ahamad
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Action for Sustainable Efficacious Development and Awareness 2023-05-01
Series:Environment Conservation Journal
Subjects:
Online Access:https://journal.environcj.in/index.php/ecj/article/view/2357
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author Shashi Bala
Faheem Ahamad
author_facet Shashi Bala
Faheem Ahamad
author_sort Shashi Bala
collection DOAJ
description Although the use of sanitizer starts around the middle of twentieth century but it becomes popular in early twenty first century (second decade of twenty first century during COVID-19 pandemic). To prevent the spread of COVID-19, World Health Organisation (WHO) recommended the use of sanitizers made up with different combinations of isopropyl alcohols, ethanol and hydrogen peroxides. Literature suggests some toxic effect of use and misuse of these components of sanitizers. Therefore, in the present study an attempt has been made to investigate the use of available hand sanitizers and their adverse effects on human body as well as to collect and correlate the gathered information with their occupation which may further trigger the adverse effect of sanitizer on human being. Out of the total respondents, 98% are using but very few (2%) are not using any type of sanitizer. Age group 2 (16-25 years) is the largest user of hand sanitizer which shows the maximum awareness of this age group related to sanitation and hygiene. Data obtained suggests that males (57.5%) are more aware to sanitization in comparison to female (41.8%). Among the total respondents, house wives were very few (0.8%) which shows lack of awareness among them may be due to their busy schedule and household works. The obtained data revealed that education plays a key role in the spread of sanitation and hygiene awareness. Most of the peoples are using the sanitizers of established brands (Dettol). The data also revealed that 88% of the respondents were observing the various impacts on the body (49% skin dryness, 16% skin allergy 12% skin irritation and itching while 12% respondents are not sure about the impacts). Only 12% peoples responded that they are not observing any impacts of sanitizer. Besides this, different components used in sanitizers pose threat to the different spheres of the environment. Based on the findings of the present study, we can conclude that sanitizer is impacting the human health and environment in various. Therefore there is a need of mass awareness regarding the use and disposal of disinfectants.
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spelling doaj.art-75d5fd4ea33c451587d107c4a6ea7c012023-06-24T04:20:25ZengAction for Sustainable Efficacious Development and AwarenessEnvironment Conservation Journal0972-30992278-51242023-05-0124210.36953/ECJ.23572619Impacts of hand sanitizer on human health and environment: a review Shashi Bala 0Faheem Ahamad 1Department of Chemistry, Keral Verma Subharti College of Science (KVSCOS), Swami Vivekanand Subharti University Meerut, Uttar Pradesh, IndiaDepartment of Environmental Science, Keral Verma Subharti College of Science (KVSCOS), Swami Vivekanand Subharti University Meerut, Uttar Pradesh, India Although the use of sanitizer starts around the middle of twentieth century but it becomes popular in early twenty first century (second decade of twenty first century during COVID-19 pandemic). To prevent the spread of COVID-19, World Health Organisation (WHO) recommended the use of sanitizers made up with different combinations of isopropyl alcohols, ethanol and hydrogen peroxides. Literature suggests some toxic effect of use and misuse of these components of sanitizers. Therefore, in the present study an attempt has been made to investigate the use of available hand sanitizers and their adverse effects on human body as well as to collect and correlate the gathered information with their occupation which may further trigger the adverse effect of sanitizer on human being. Out of the total respondents, 98% are using but very few (2%) are not using any type of sanitizer. Age group 2 (16-25 years) is the largest user of hand sanitizer which shows the maximum awareness of this age group related to sanitation and hygiene. Data obtained suggests that males (57.5%) are more aware to sanitization in comparison to female (41.8%). Among the total respondents, house wives were very few (0.8%) which shows lack of awareness among them may be due to their busy schedule and household works. The obtained data revealed that education plays a key role in the spread of sanitation and hygiene awareness. Most of the peoples are using the sanitizers of established brands (Dettol). The data also revealed that 88% of the respondents were observing the various impacts on the body (49% skin dryness, 16% skin allergy 12% skin irritation and itching while 12% respondents are not sure about the impacts). Only 12% peoples responded that they are not observing any impacts of sanitizer. Besides this, different components used in sanitizers pose threat to the different spheres of the environment. Based on the findings of the present study, we can conclude that sanitizer is impacting the human health and environment in various. Therefore there is a need of mass awareness regarding the use and disposal of disinfectants. https://journal.environcj.in/index.php/ecj/article/view/2357AlcoholCOVID-19 pandemicCoronavirusRespondentsSanitizerDisinfectants
spellingShingle Shashi Bala
Faheem Ahamad
Impacts of hand sanitizer on human health and environment: a review
Environment Conservation Journal
Alcohol
COVID-19 pandemic
Coronavirus
Respondents
Sanitizer
Disinfectants
title Impacts of hand sanitizer on human health and environment: a review
title_full Impacts of hand sanitizer on human health and environment: a review
title_fullStr Impacts of hand sanitizer on human health and environment: a review
title_full_unstemmed Impacts of hand sanitizer on human health and environment: a review
title_short Impacts of hand sanitizer on human health and environment: a review
title_sort impacts of hand sanitizer on human health and environment a review
topic Alcohol
COVID-19 pandemic
Coronavirus
Respondents
Sanitizer
Disinfectants
url https://journal.environcj.in/index.php/ecj/article/view/2357
work_keys_str_mv AT shashibala impactsofhandsanitizeronhumanhealthandenvironmentareview
AT faheemahamad impactsofhandsanitizeronhumanhealthandenvironmentareview