Firms selling ‘adulterated’ sanitisers must be banned
Open House: What should the govt do to curb sale of hand sanitisers having harmful chemicals?
Centre, states must start awareness campaigns
The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) of the United States has taken up the issue of use of methanol in production of hand sanitisers. But no such step has been taken in our country. Hand sanitiser should contain 60% of ethanol, also called ethyl alcohol, but manufacturers are using methanol, which gets absorbed in skin, causing vomiting, headache, blurred vision, blindness and permanent damage to the nervous system and even death. The US FDA has informed the world about the ill-effects of methanol. Now the Centre and and state governments must start awareness campaigns to sensitise the public at the earliest.
Naresh Johar
Laxity on part of authorities exposed
Since the outbreak of Covid, people have been conscientiously applying sanitisers on their hands, even spraying them on formites multiple time a day, in belief that alcohol-based liquid is effective in killing germs. Their belief has been shattered with the news that some products containing methanol were being sold in the market illegally. Methanol is known to cause harm to skin, eyes and the central nervous system. To cater to the growing demand for hand sanitisers because rising Covid-19 cases, a few companies started producing substandard products. The presence of substandard or adulterated sanitisers in the market has also exposed the lax attitude of the health administration. The government should also create awareness on harmful effects of chemicals in hand sanitisers.
Amarjit Kalsi
Ban firms involved in illegal trade
Methanol is a toxic chemical and cannot be used as ingredient for producing hand sanitisers. Those who have used sanitisers with methanol must seek treatment as substantial exposure results in nausea, vomiting, headache, blurred vision, permanent damage to the nervous system or even death. The government should keep a close watch on the sale of such products and ban the companies involves to send a message to those who indulge in the illegal trade.
Rohit Kumar Sehdev
Check ingredients before buying hand sanitisers
Wearing masks and using hand sanitizers help in preventing the spread of the coronavirus disease. We seem to have been overpowered by the protocols that we turn a blind eye to the quality of sanitisers available in the market. These sanitisers contain harmful chemicals which, instead of protecting us from germs, can adversely affect our health. Many firms, taking into consideration a huge demand for hand sanitisers these days, are making substandard products. On the other hand, these substandard products are reaching consumers after being approved by government authorities who have been assigned the task of quality testing. Therefore, manufacturers and scrutinising authorities are equally responsible for the availability of methanol-based hand sanitisers in the market. Both must be held accountable for toxic sanitisers which are health hazards. Fixing accountability will be possible. Even we, consumers, need to be cautious while purchasing such products. The ingredients must be cross-verified. This is vital for our personal protection. Moreover, we need to understand that washing hands with soap frequently is more effective than using sanitisers. These must be preferred only under unavoidable circumstances.
Gulshakh Kaur
Govt must bring culprits to book
Even in these uncertain times, unscrupulous traders are leaving no stone unturned to make a quick buck. Manufacturing of substandard sanitisers by adding methanol instead of isopropyl alcohol is harmful for the health of human beings. Substantial exposure to methanol can lead to nausea, vomiting, giddiness and in worst cases even seizures. The government must bring the culprits to book and award stricter punishment to the offenders. Moreover, the general public should go for the time-tested method of cleaning the hands with soap and water instead of using adulterated and substandard hand sanitisers.
Rajiv Sharma
Alcohol-based sanitisers a better option
Amid the new FDA warnings that most hand sanitisers which consumers use contain nothing but a lethal chemical methanol (wood alcohol), people are in a quandary if they should use sanitisers containing dangerous methanol or not. The FDA should have named the brands which are selling substandard and harmful sanitisers so that people can avoid them. Substantial exposure to methanol can result in vomitting, headache, blurred vision, permanent blindness, seizures, coma and damage the nervous system. Consumers using sanitisers having methanol, which is not an acceptable active ingredient for hand sanitisers, are facing a greater risk to their health. Instead, an alcohol-based sanitiser that contains at least 60 per cent ethanol, which is simple alcohol, is a much better option. Though ethanol is an effective sanitiser, it should be used when soap and water are not available. Regrettably, nothing is being done by the authorities concerned to ensure the safety of consumers. They are completely focusing on the revival of the economy giving a go-by to people’s safety and health. Already, use of chemicals and adulteration in our eatables and drinks is playing havoc with our health and lives. Sanitisers with methanol chemical will have further serious effects on our health. On their part, the authorities seem to be pretending to have noticed nothing. Still, they are answerable to public. That is highly deplorable and despicable. People should be senitised to the injurious effects of sanitisers having methanol. Prevention is better than cure. Hence the brands selling sanitisers having methanol must be prevented from doing so and the authorities should take strict action against them. Merely letting the people know that the FDA has detected toxic methanol in hand sanitisers is not suffice. Actions speak louder than words. It is time for the authorities concerned to act soon to ensure public’s safety.
Tarsem S Bumrah
QUESTION
Even as the UGC insists that exit exams are a must, the Punjab Government, which had already announced cancellation, is now pleading before the Centre for a rethink. In the tussle between the Centre and the state, who do you think is right?
Suggestions in not more than 200 words can be sent to amritsardesk@tribunemail.com by Thursday (July 16).
