Consumption of Household Disinfectants during the COVID-19 Pandemic in Sorsogon, Philippines

Knowledge of behavior and perception changes about the use of household disinfectants in the Philippines during the COVID-19 pandemic is largely unexplored. Through a survey, we took into consideration the locals' responses from Sorsogon, Philippines. Alcohol and oxidizing agents were found to be the most commonly used household disinfectant products in Sorsogon. Most of the respondents have shifted to the everyday use of disinfectant products during the pandemic. Increased disinfectant consumerism was positively associated with genders, employed respondents, and students but not among housewives and non-employed respondents. Most of the respondents agreed that various factors are needed to consider when choosing disinfectants. They were also knowledgeable about the possible effects of disinfectant wastes on the environment. How would these collective positive behavior changes during the new normal era warrant further attention. [ FROM AUTHOR] Copyright of Philippine Journal of Science is the property of Science & Technology Information Institute and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full . (Copyright applies to all s.)

Can COVID-19 pandemic surveillance reduce nosocomial urinary infections in urologic surgery?

INTRODUCTION: Since COVID-19 pandemic spread, strict preventive measures were adopted to reduce the risk of transmission. Antiseptic dispensers for hand hygiene were diffusely available for patients and hospital staff. To investigate the prophylactic role played by the strict antiseptic rules adopted during pandemic, the rates of nosocomial urinary infections in 2019 and 2020 were compared. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Patients' clinical pre-operative characteristics, symptoms, fever, and laboratory data were recorded pre- and post-operatively. Urological surgery was classified in five categories: 1. major surgery 2. upper urinary tract endoscopy, 3. lower urinary tract endoscopy, 4. minor surgery, and 5. Nephrostomy and ureteral stenting. Clavien-Dindo complication score was used. Statistical analysis was performed with R 3.4.2 software. RESULTS: Out of 495 patients, 383 (57.1%) underwent surgical intervention in pre-pandemic March-May 2019 period and 212 (42.9%) in the same pandemic 2020 interval. Preoperatively, 40 (14.1%) and 11 (5.2%) and 77 (27.3%) and 37 (17.5%) patients had fever (p < 0.003) and leukocytosis (p < 0.02), in 2019 and 2020 respectively. Urine culture was positive in 29 (10.2%) and 13 (6.2%) patients respectively (p = 0.22). Post-operatively, 54 (19.1%) and 22 (10.4%) patients and 17 (6.1%) and 2 (0.6%) patients showed fever (p < 0.003) and positive urineculture (p < 0.03), in 2019 and 2020 respectively. DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSION: Preoperative and post-operative clinical and laboratory signs of nosocomial urinary infection showed a statistically significant lower incidence during the pandemic period in 2020. This observation could be ascribed to the strong preventive measures, to the medical staff high adherence to hygiene and the diffuse availability of hand sanitizers.

Utilization of Developed and Transferred Technologies of TVET by the Society in Addis Ababa for Combating COVID-19

Purpose -- In this research work, emphasis is made on collecting society response and acceptance levels of technologies developed and transferred by TVET Institutions. Critical information on the technical and performance parameters of transferred technologies was received from many respondents who were closely associated with society. Design/methodology/approach -- The methodology included questionnaires based on 5-point Likert scale questionnaire with an objective to ascertain the acceptance levels of technologies developed and transferred by TVET Institutions. The questionnaire contained queries addressing variety of issues, like type of technologies developed and developing, manpower participating in technology development, problems associated with technology development and transfer. The methodology followed was based on the analysis of the response received on technical questionnaire that was designed and responses received from the people located in Addis Ababa city Practical Implications: COVID-19 has been rising and mutating in many countries since it was discovered by the end of 2019. Many countries, including Ethiopia has seen the spike and fall of COVID-19 regularly. This non-linear behavior of COVID-19 infection rate curves around the world has prompted many educational institutions like TVET (Technical Vocational and Education Training) institutions located in Addis Ababa to develop and transfer technologies like hand washing machines, face masks, sanitizers and other anti-covid technologies. These equipment's posse's characteristic simple operational and quality properties like usability, functionality, efficiency, etc. This research will help to gather the technical information pertaining to design, quality and performance of Hand washing equipment's, face masks, Hand sanitizers and other equipment's from the society. Findings - Divergent and constructive opinions were received from the society to improve and meet the ever-rising demand for anti-COVID-19 technologies. The user response on developed and transferred technology prove the usefulness to combat COVID-19 spread but also finds many applications with in the life of the public. Cronbach alpha reliability test value of 0.73 was obtained after analysis of the response data. The results prove the excellence and consistency of the responses received on the development and transferred technologies. Overall, the research findings help to build and transfer most robust, quality and cost-effective technologies that is a need of the hour to fight against COVID-19 transmission. Originality/value -- COVID-19 has posed many challenges to public and has resulted in many deaths in Addis Ababa and entire Ethiopia. This work is unique and would make valuable contribution and gather information from the society on the design and technical aspects of developed and transferred technologies by TVET Institutions used for combating COVID-19. [ FROM AUTHOR] Copyright of Journal of Pharmaceutical Negative Results is the property of ResearchTrentz and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full . (Copyright applies to all s.)

Hidden threat lurking in extensive hand hygiene during the Covid-19 pandemic: investigation of sensitizing molecules in gel products by hyphenated chromatography techniques.

During the Covid-19 pandemic, health agencies worldwide have recommended frequent handwashing and sanitizing. A variety of hand gel products were made available on the market, often with fragrances added to curtail the strong smell of alcohol. Commonly used Citrus fragrances contain volatile aroma constituents and non-volatile oxygen heterocyclic compounds (OHCs), consisting mostly of polymethoxyflavones, coumarins, and furocoumarins. The latter have long been investigated for their phototoxic properties, and their safety as cosmetic product ingredients has been debated recurrently. To this concern, twelve commercial Citrus-scented products were investigated in this study. An extraction method was optimized for thirty-seven OHC compounds, obtaining absolute mean recovery values in the 73.5-116% range with only few milliliters of solvent consumption. Analysis by ultra-high-pressure liquid chromatography with tandem mass spectrometry detection evidenced that three samples did not conform to the labeling requirements for fragrance allergens (coumarin) laid down by the European Union Regulation on Cosmetic Products. The total furocoumarin (FC) content of the samples investigated was in the 0.003-3.7ppm range, with some noteworthy exceptions. Specifically, in two samples, the total FCs were quantified as 89 and 219 ppm, thus exceeding the safe limits recommended up to a factor of 15. Finally, the consistency of the volatile fingerprint attained by gas chromatography allowed drawing conclusions on the authenticity of the Citrus fragrances labeled, and several products did not conform to the information reported on the label concerning the presence of essential oils. Besides the issue of product authenticity, analytical tools and regulatory actions for widespread testing of hand hygiene products are urgent, to protect consumers' health and safety.

Analysis of 70% Alcohol and Impurities: Analytical Methods, Quality Control, Health Risks and Legislation

In March 2020, COVID-19 was declared a pandemic by the World Health Organization, which led to a series of recommendations regarding personal hygiene, among which, the use of alcohol 70% as hand sanitizers. Due to the great demand for this product, it became scarce and the regulatory agencies made the legislation for production by some industries, manipulation pharmacies, and laboratories more flexible. This situation promoted the commercialization of alcohol-based products within concentrations outside of the limits, compromising their efficiency. Therefore, this is important that these products are submitted to rigorous quality control to avoid harm issues to human health. However, ANVISA does not specify an official method for monitoring alcohol 70%, especially when impurities are present. Within this context, the present work aims to present the use of the classic technique, such as the gas chromatography, as well some alternative analytical methods applied to alcohol 70% determination, taking into account literature reports published in the last two pandemic years.

Effectiveness of hand sanitizers in the prevention of COVID-19 and related public health concerns: A review

The COVID-19 pandemic poses a severe threat to public health, resulting in high levels of mortality and morbidity. In response, there has been a significant usage of hand sanitizers in homes, public places, and healthcare systems. In the global panic, the market has a variety of products, and there are serious concerns about the safety and the potential of hand sanitization as the blue bullet for COVID-19. Therefore, this article presents a critical review of types of hand sanitizers available on the market, their active ingredients coupled with their mode of action in the wake of antiviral efficacies. In addition, the adoption of a culture of hand sanitization by society could raise the demand for hand sanitizers for an extended period. The continuous use of hand sanitizers might pose some safety concerns. Consequently, the review articulates potential dangers associated with hand sanitizer used to equip suppliers and manufacturers with knowledge on the safety of different ingredients and formulations, hence safeguarding the final users.Copyright © 2022 The Author(s). This open access article is distributed under a Creative Commons Attribution (CC-BY) 4.0 license.

Automatic Hand Sanitizer and Body Temperature Measurement System with Low Liquid Hand Sanitizer Condition Notification

Coronavirus disease (Covid-19) still exists, but the implementation of health protocols, namely maintaining distance, wearing masks, and washing hands (3M) is not optimal and has received more attention lately. Previous studies applied the IoT concepts to hand sanitizer systems and automatic body temperature measurements. However, this research has not been optimal for system integration in solving problems. Existing research only focuses on temperature sensor readings which can be monitored in real-time by installing third-party applications first. Therefore, we make an automatic hand sanitizer and body temperature measurement system equipped with low liquid hand sanitizer condition notification by implementing modifications using PHP MySQL website and notification feature via Twilio bot integrated with WhatsApp. The feature is based on previous research proposals. Based on the test results, the performance of the system prototype is considered good. The system prototype can produce an average of 1.1 mL as the recommended average hand sanitizer in one use of less than 1.74 mL. Then the system prototype has a hand sanitizer fluid accuracy of 90.4% and an accuracy of MLX90614 temperature sensor of 99.9%. © 2022 IEEE.

Impact on Development Techniques by the Application of Hand Sanitizer Prior to the Fingerprint Deposition

The general public's interest in hand sanitizers has soared after the covid-19 pandemic pestilence. This gave rise to the notion that the use of such hand sanitizers may hinder or enhance the visibility of developed fingerprints. Based on this hypothesis, a hand sanitizer was tested to see how it affected the detection of fingerprints left behind after use. Fingerprint detection techniques used included: ninhydrin, silver nitrate, iodine fuming and cyanoacrylate method. When hand sanitized fingerprints were compared to non-hand sanitized fingerprints, the alcohol-based hand sanitizers improved the visibility and quality of fingerprints developed with ninhydrin and iodine fuming, and marginally improved those developed with silver nitrate and cyanoacrylate method. To determine the longevity of improved developed quality, time since hand sanitizer application prior to fingerprint deposition was tested. According to the current research, the visibility and quality of fingerprints improved after application of hand sanitizer. It is hypothesised that the presence of alcohol in hand sanitizer clears the friction ridges, improving the visibility of the fingerprints when developed through ninhydrin, silver nitrate and iodine fuming. This enhancement was not observed in cyanoacrylate. Additionally, when aged in seven-time intervals of 10 minutes, 15 days, 1 month, 2 months, 4 months and 6 months, the latent fingerprints improved in visibility quality when compared with and without the application of hand sanitizer. It was clear that application of hand sanitizers before the fingerprint deposition affects the visibility and quality of the fingerprints on development. Also, the improved quality of hand sanitizers was compared between seven timeline-based intervals i.e., 10 minutes, 15 days, 1 month, 2 months, 4 months and 6 months. Further examination is needed to determine how the components of hand sanitizers influences the fingerprint development. Copyright © 2022, Medico Legal Society. All rights reserved.

Assessment of compliance to packaging and labeling regulatory requirements of locally manufactured alcohol-based hand sanitizers marketed in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.

BACKGROUND: Following the emergence of the global Coronavirus Disease-2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, alcohol-based hand sanitizers (ABHS) have been extensively used as one of the effective methods of preventing its transmission. The products are dispensed over the counter and used by the general population. Growing concerns have been reported, however, regarding the quality, efficacy and compliance to regulatory requirements calling for objective evidence that can facilitate proactive regulatory measures. OBJECTIVES: The study aimed at assessing the level of compliance to packaging and labeling regulatory requirements of selected locally manufactured ABHS products marketed in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. METHODS: A cross-sectional study design was employed to randomly collect 25 locally manufactured ABHS products from retail outlets located in Addis Ababa. The manufacturers were grouped under four categories considering their experience in manufacturing, resources and technical capacities. The collected samples were evaluated for compliance to packaging and labeling information regulatory requirements and the results subjected to descriptive analysis. RESULTS: Majority of the products were found to meet most of the packaging, general product description and manufacturer-related information requirements. However, concerning gaps were observed in storage, precaution and warning-related labeling information requirements. The overall compliance of the selected products (to a total of 29 requirements under 5 categories) was 56.9%. The highest level of compliance was for general product information requirements (80.2%) followed by packaging and manufacturer-related requirements accounting for 76.8% and 75.0%, respectively. Low level of compliance was observed for storage condition and precautions (10.2% and 42.4%, respectively). Better overall compliance to packaging and labeling requirements (62.9%) were observed by large pharmaceutical and cosmetics manufacturers, while the lowest compliance level was recorded for medium level pharmaceuticals and cosmetics manufacturers. CONCLUSIONS: Even though most of the selected products were able to comply with the majority of packaging, product description and manufacturer-related requirements, gaps were observed in essential labeling information requirements. Considering the extensive use of ABHS products among diverse population groups and the potential risks associated with inappropriate use of the products, improving regulatory law enforcement practices, strengthening continuing education of manufacturing personnel and raising public awareness is very timely.

Advanced sanitation products infused with silver nanoparticles for viral protection and their ecological and environmental consequences.

The outbreak of coronavirus ailments (COVID-19) in 2019 resulted in public health crisis leading to global pandemonium. In response to the high prevalence of disease transmission, governments all around the globe implemented emergency measures in various routes (e.g., social distancing, personal hygiene, and disinfection of public/private places) to curb/contain COVID-19 infections. The social media infodemic, released as uncensored publishing and/or views/recommendations, also triggered large-scale behavior changes such as the overuse of advanced sanitation products (ASPs) containing nanomaterials. The majority of these ASPs contain silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) as an active ingredient to enhance their antimicrobial potential. Ecotoxicological concerns such as the transformation and degradation of these AgNP-infused products in terrestrial or aquatic environments are under the jurisdiction of the EPA. However, they are not considered in the FDA approval process. In light of excessive consumption of ASPs, it is time to consider their ecotoxicological screening prior to market approval jointly by the FDA and EPA, along with the implementation of post-market surveillance strategies. At the same time, efforts should be put into running awareness programs to prevent the overuse of ASPs.

Occurrence of and dermal exposure to benzene, toluene and styrene found in hand sanitizers from the United States.

Human exposure to carcinogenic volatile organic compounds (VOCs), such as benzene, from hand sanitizers is a topic of current concern. In light of the heavy use of hand sanitizers during the COVID-19 pandemic, determination of exposure to toxicants present in these products deserves attention. The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) had set an interim limit for benzene in alcohol-based hand sanitizers at 2000 parts-per-billion (ppb). We determined the concentrations of and exposure to three VOCs namely, benzene, toluene and styrene, in 200 hand sanitizers using high-resolution gas chromatography coupled with high-resolution mass spectrometry (HRGC-HRMS). Benzene, toluene and styrene were found in 31%, 25% and 32%, respectively, of the samples analyzed at mean concentrations of 395 (range: 0.181-22,300), 164 (range: 0.074-20,700) and 61.3 ng/g (range: 0.082-4200 ng/g), respectively. Benzene was found at concentrations > 2000 ng/g (above the FDA interim limit) in 5% of the samples, representing 9 brands. The mean potential dermal exposure doses (DEDs) to benzene (children/teenagers: 34.6; adults: 24.7 ng/kg-bw/d) were higher than those for toluene (children/teenagers: 14.4; adults: 10.3 ng/kg-bw/d) and styrene (children/teenagers: 5.37; adults: 3.83 ng/kg-bw/d) in the 200 hand sanitizers analyzed. The estimated cancer risk from exposure to benzene in children/teenagers and adults from hand sanitizer use (at an estimated usage rate of 5 g/day) was greater than the one-in-a-million risk benchmark (1.0 × 10-6) for 10% and 9% of the samples, respectively. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first study to determine both the concentrations of and exposure risks to benzene, toluene and styrene present in hand sanitizers.

Phytophotodermatitis due to a Citrus-Based Hand Sanitizer: A Case Report.

Phytophotodermatitis, a cutaneous reaction caused by direct contact with photosensitive substances in plants and subsequent exposure to ultraviolet light, is commonly caused by psoralens in plants, including citrus fruits. We describe a case of phytophotodermatitis caused by a hand sanitizer containing a blood orange (Citrus sinensis) extract. To our knowledge, this is the first reported case of phytophotodermatitis caused by a hand sanitizer. A 41-year-old woman presented with a 2-week history of pruritic cutaneous eruptions on her right thigh. Approximately 24 hours prior to the onset of her symptoms, she applied a new citrus-based hand sanitizer. Immediately after applying the hand sanitizer, her right thigh was exposed to sunlight for approximately 5 hours. Extracts from oranges are used in many cosmetics, including perfumes and fragrances. With the increased use of hand sanitizers during the coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic, physicians should note that phytophotodermatitis due to scented hand sanitizers may occur more frequently.

Hand Sanitizers Containing Alcohol and their Effects on the Skin during the COVID-19 Pandemic

COVID-19 is a contagious disease with a high case fatality and morbidity rate associated with a pandemic outbreak. Transmission of SARS-CoV-2 infection can take place via airborne transmission, droplet, or direct contact. Implementing effective preventive measures remains the most important option available for dealing with SARS-CoV-2. The effectiveness of surface disinfectants, sanitizers, and personal protective equipment is totally based on three factors-strength, composition, and material-to determine whether or not preventive measures will be effective. Coronavirus transmission is disrupted by the use of an alcohol-based sanitizer containing 62% to 95% alcohol, which can denature viral proteins. However, hand sanitizers and disinfectants used on a regular daily basis may harm the skin's surface. In this study, we cover the importance of selecting the right disinfectant, the proper method of hand sanitization, and how to minimize the harmful effects on the skin while enhancing the inhibitory activity that could be a viable prescription for fighting COVID-19.

ALCOHOL GEL FOR ASEPSY OF THE HANDS-PROPER FORMULATION AND GUARANTEED EFFICIENCY AMID THE PANDEMIC OF COVID-19

The use of hand antiseptics became widespread as a routine in the fight against COVID-19. In the market, the availability and purchase of substandard antiseptics create a permanent concern with safety, even after a pandemic. Therefore, the development of easy-to-deploy analytical methods for the quality control of alcohol-based hand antiseptics is needed. In this work, to determine the ethanol content in alcohol gel the use of refractometry and alcohol oxidation method by dichromate accompanied by UV-Vis spectroscopy were applied. The results indicated that 19 brands (out of the 70 evaluated) (27.1%) had levels of ethyl alcohol below the recommended level (68.25%), therefore, they are ineffective for hand asepsis. For the quality control of hand antiseptics, refractometry and the oxidation-reduction reaction are complementary analytical methodologies. As a quick, inexpensive screening method, refractometry provides a more suitable technique. However, the interference of emollients may affect the accuracy of the ethanol content determination. Therefore, applying the ethanol oxidation method coupled with electronic spectroscopy offers a simple and broadly accessible method to confirm the ethanol content in alcohol-based hand antiseptics. In addition to developing quality control protocols, is also described the 3.5-ton production of alcohol gel at the Federal University of Bahia.

IMPACT OF HAND SANITIZER ON THE FINGERPRINTS DEVELOPMENTALTECHNIQUES

Background-The general public’s interest in hand sanitizers has soared after the covid-19 pandemic pestilence. This gave rise to the notion that the use of such hand sanitizers may hinder the visibility of developed fingerprints. Methodology-Based on this hypothesis, a hand sanitizer was tested to see how it affected the detection of fingerprints left behind after use. Fingerprint detection techniques used included: ninhydrin, silver nitrate, iodine fuming and cyanoacrylate method. Result and conclusion-When hand sanitized fingerprints were compared to non-hand sanitized fingerprints, the alcohol-based hand sanitizers improved the visibility of fingerprints developed with ninhydrin and iodine fuming, and marginally improved those developed with silver nitrate and cyanoacrylate method. To determine the longevity of improved developed quality, various parameters such as time since hand sanitizer application prior to fingerprint deposition was tested. © 2021, Medico Legal Society. All rights reserved.

Culture revolution for negative effects always using hand sanitizer in this COVID-19 pandemic;E-review paper

Hand sanitizer is one of the mandatory to be used in this covid-19 pandemic. It is purposed to protect from covid-19 viruses transmitted. There are many benefits of using hand sanitizer example simple in using all around. Although the benefits, it has many negative effects in using this product. The methods of this study use re-review from many references inside the internet website. The results of this study inform that many negative effects of this study like dry skin, diarrhea, disrupting child immunity, and infertility. As a recommendation, the user of hand sanitizer must be aware of using this product. Hands washing with water flowing more qualify to be used to clean the hand.

Public Health Impacts of Exposure to Disinfectants, Therapeutics, and Illicit Substances During the COVID-19 Pandemic

The SARS-CoV-2 virus spread rapidly, infecting over a hundred million people worldwide;thus, it has been called the COVID-19 pandemic, in which it is very important to wear a protective mask, wash hands properly, obey social distance rules, and use disinfectants to protect ourselves against infection. Therefore, the consumption of cleaning agents such as disinfectants, surface cleaners, and bleach has increased during the pandemic. Misuse of these substances such as drinking or gargling of cleaners and excessive use has led to many poisoning cases and even deaths. In addition, quarantine and stay-at-home orders during the pandemic caused people to could not socialize and feel dissociated. Moreover, due to the economic problems, many people became unemployed, which affected substance abuse and alcohol consumption frequency, thus poisoning cases as well. This article aimed to review how the COVID-19 was affected the disinfectant or cleaner-induced poisoning cases and the public health impacts between the drug or substance abuse due to pandemic. © 2022, Hacettepe University, Faculty of Pharmacy. All rights reserved.

COVID-19 pandemic lockdown-Is it affecting our skin hygiene and cosmetic practice?

BACKGROUND: Orders such as self-isolation, quarantine, social distancing, and lockdown implemented as a protective measure against COVID-19 has allowed people to devote their excess leisure time to their appearance, cosmetics, and hygiene. OBJECTIVE: To assess the skin care routine regarding hygiene and cosmetic practices among female users of social media during the COVID-19 pandemic. METHOD: A cross-sectional study was done among 300 female social media users using purposive sampling. A self-administered questionnaire that included questions related to hygiene practices such as hand washing, use of hand sanitizers, bathing, hair washing, and use of certain cosmetics before and during the pandemic was used to collect all relevant data. RESULT: Handwashing after returning home and shaking hands with others increased during the pandemic as compared with prior practices. The frequency of using a hand sanitizer had also increased during the pandemic. There was a statistically significant decrease in the frequency of the hair removal and visits to beauty salons during the pandemic. Cosmetics were used less, although face creams and lip balm were used more. Even though most of our respondents thought pandemic practices were convenient to use, more than half of them said they wished to go back to their pre-pandemic routines once the pandemic was over. CONCLUSION: The study revealed an increase in washing behavior, use of facial cream, and lip balms. Moreover, a decrease in using make-up cosmetics, hair removal, and beauty salon visits during the pandemic.

Significant variations of dangerous exposures during COVID-19 pandemic in Italy: a possible association with the containment measures implemented to reduce the virus transmission.

BACKGROUND: In response to the COVID-19 health emergency, mass media widely spread guidelines to stop the virus transmission, leading to an excessive and unaware use of detergents and disinfectants. In Italy and in other countries this tendency caused a significant increase of exposures to these products in 2020. Evaluating data collected by the Italian Pavia Poison Centre (PPC), this study intends to examine the relationship between the COVID-19 lockdown and the variations of exposures to specific product categories possibly associated to the containment measures implemented. Simultaneously, this work shows the effectiveness of the European Product Categorisation System (EuPCS) in surveillance activities of dangerous chemicals. METHODS: Exposure cases managed by the PPC during March-May 2020 (lockdown) and during the same months of 2017-2018-2019 were compared. Differences in categorical variables were tested with the Chi-square test. The level of significance was set at Alpha = .05. The study included all EuPCS groups but specifically focused on cleaners, detergents, biocides and cosmetics. RESULTS: During the lockdown, calls from private citizens showed a highly significant increase (+ 11.5%, p < .001) and occupational exposures decreased (- 11.7%, p = .011). Among Cleaners, exposures to Bleaches slightly increased while Drain cleaning products went through a significant reduction (- 13.9%, p = .035). A highly significant increase of exposures to Disinfectants was observed (+ 7.7%, p = .007), particularly to those for surfaces (+ 6.8%, p = .039). Regarding Cosmetics, both handwashing soaps and gel products significantly increased (respectively: + 25.0, p = .016 and + 9.7%, p = .028). Among children 1-5 years, the statistical significance is reached with exposures to Dishwashing detergents (+ 13.1%, p = .032), handwashing soaps (+ 28.6%, p = .014) and handwashing gel products (+ 16.8%, p = .010). Contrarily, Liquid Laundry Detergent Capsules decreased in a highly significant manner (- 25%; p = .001). The general severity of exposures showed a highly significant decrease (Moderate: - 10.1%, p = .0002). CONCLUSIONS: This study investigated the relationship between the COVID-19 lockdown and the variations of exposures to some product categories related to the containment measures. The results obtained support any action to be taken by Competent Authorities to implement measures for a safer use of cleaners/disinfectants. This paper shows the benefit in applying the EuPCS to categorize products according to their intended use, though an extension of this system to products not covered by CLP Regulation may be a further advantage.

Alcohol-Based Hand Sanitizers: Does Gelling Agent Really Matter?

Hand hygiene, social distancing, and face covering are considered the first protection against Coronavirus spreading. The high demand during the COVID-19 emergency has driven a frenetic production and marketing of hand sanitizer gels. Nevertheless, the effect of the gelling agent and its amount on the effectiveness of alcohol-based hand sanitizers (ABHSs) needs to be clarified. We presented a systematic study on the effect of the characteristics and concentration of the most employed excipients on the properties and antimicrobial activity of ABHSs. Three different gelling agents, carbopol, hydroxypropylmethylcellulose (HPMC), and hydroxyethylcellulose (HEC), at four different concentrations were used to prepare ABHSs. Viscosity, spreadability, delivery from commercial dispensers, evaporation rate, rubbing time, and hand distribution of the ABHSs were then explored. Biocidal activity of selected ABHSs was evaluated in vitro on ATCC and clinical strains. The studied ABHS can be considered bioactive and comfortable. Nevertheless, the cellulose polymers and ethanol interactions led to a slight but significant reduction in the biocidal activity compared with carbopol-based formulations. Our results underline the importance of the gelling agent properties and support the choice of carbopol as one of the best thickener agents in ABHS formulations.