![]() ![]() Further, previously conducted research of hand sanitizer use did not specifically include use in a school/childcare setting. However, consumer use of hand sanitizer has changed in response to the COVID-19 pandemic, and pre-pandemic research is unlikely to reflect current use patterns. ![]() Some sources of information, including the scientific literature and ConsExpo fact sheets, compile exposure information for groups of products including cleaning products, cosmetics, do-it-yourself products, pest control, and children’s toys. Such parameters include frequency of use by age group, route of exposure (such as dermal, ingestion, or inhalation), amount used, duration of product use, and location of use. Therefore, parameters that affect the level of exposure are identified and modeling is used to estimate consumer exposure. The COVID-19 global pandemic has altered the use pattern of hand sanitizers and highlighted the need for more relevant information that may signal changing consumer behaviors and increased exposures.Ĭhemical exposure is infrequently measured or reported in the literature. More recently, the Dutch government looked specifically at use of ethanol-containing hand sanitizers by consumers and workers during the pandemic, including examining use at up to 25 times/day in children and up to 100 times/day in adolescents and adults. A number of regulators, including Health Canada, the Dutch National Institute for Public Health and the Environment (RIVM) and the European Commission Scientific Committee on Consumer Safety (SCCS) have examined the safety of chemicals found in hand sanitizers. Many of these substances may cause skin burns, eye damage or irritation, dizziness and/or may cause cancer. The most common active ingredients in hand sanitizers include ethyl alcohol, 2-propanol and benzalkonium chloride, representing ~96% of the reported active ingredients in hand sanitizers. Exposures to substances and impurities in hand sanitizers are assessed as part of a chemical risk assessment using key exposure parameters such as frequency of use and amount used. In addition to active ingredients, hand sanitizers may also contain other substances () and impurities. To maintain good hand hygiene when soap and water are not available, use of a hand sanitizer containing at least 60% alcohol is recommended by public health organizations. Since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, public health officials have stressed the importance of proper hygiene, with increased advice on using hand sanitizers in schools and childcare settings. The results can be used to estimate exposure to chemicals in hand sanitizer from non-occupational use in Canada and among similar populations and signal the importance of examining changing consumer behaviors and use of consumer products in school settings, especially among children. This research explores uses of hand sanitizer, before and during pandemic conditions, in the general population of Canada with a particular focus on use among children. This study illustrates the importance of examining the change in consumer behaviors during a pandemic and the need to look beyond the home when attempting to understand product use patterns in children. This is the first study, known to the authors, examining hand sanitizer use among children during the pandemic, including use in a childcare or school setting. Notable differences were found when comparing the frequency of hand sanitizer use by children in the home to children in a school or childcare setting. ![]() The frequency of hand sanitizer use during the pandemic was found to be as high as 25 times per day in children and over 9 times per day in adults. Responses were received from 655 adults in the general population and 298 teachers of children up to the age of 18 years. MethodsĪn online survey of Canadians (conducted from September to October 2021) was employed to estimate use frequency, amount, and pattern of hand sanitizer use. To better understand the impact of this recommendation, hand sanitizer use, including the frequency and amount handled, was examined among adults in a non-occupational setting and children in both the home and school/childcare settings. As such, its daily use among the general population has reportedly increased dramatically since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic. The use of hand sanitizers has been one of the key public health measures recommended to reduce the transmission of SARS-CoV-2 during the pandemic.
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