The European Union is weighing whether to classify ethanol, a key ingredient in many hand sanitizers, as a hazardous substance linked to cancer, according to a Reuters report citing the Financial Times.
Notably, an internal recommendation dated Oct. 10 from a working group within the European Chemicals Agency reportedly identified ethanol as a toxic chemical that could raise the risk of cancer and pregnancy complications. The group suggested that the substance be phased out from cleaning agents and similar products.
In contrast, the World Health Organization considers both ethanol and isopropanol, two commonly used antiseptics, are safe for hand hygiene.
