Why Is This Carcinogen in Hand Sanitizers?

During the pandemic, the FDA allowed hand sanitizers to be made from cheap, low-grade ethanol, even if it contaminated them with benzene, a known human carcinogen.

STORY AT-A-GLANCE

• The U.S. Food and Drug Administration issued temporary guidance in March 2020, allowing benzene in hand sanitizers at levels up to 2 parts per million (ppm)

• The allowance was made due to the COVID-19 pandemic, which triggered unprecedented demand for disinfectant products like hand sanitizers

• When hand sanitizer shortages emerged at the s…