EcoWaste Coalition Raises the Alarm over Mispackaged Alcohol and Bleach Products
The toxics watchdog group EcoWaste Coalition today warned the
public about the risk of poisoning from the unintentional ingestion of alcohol
and bleach products packaged in containers that are often used for drinking
purposes.
The group raised the alarm after purchasing alcohol and bleach products in
clear polyethylene terephthalate (PET) containers, which
are popular for packaging drinking water. The group bought the products
from a home improvement supplies retailer and
two "sabon" stations.
“Because of their water-like appearance, rubbing alcohol, bleach
and disinfectant bleach solution can be mistaken for drinking water, especially
by an unsupervised child who wants to quench her/his thirst. A child is
easily misled into drinking alcohol or bleach if it is packaged in a container
commonly used for drinking water,” said Thony Dizon, Chemical Safety
Campaigner, EcoWaste Coalition.
With
the increased demand for alcohol and bleach products amid the COVID-19
pandemic, particularly for disinfection, the EcoWaste Coalition emphasized the
need to use them responsibly to avoid getting poisoned.
“Not a few people, children as well as adults, have been poisoned due to the
ingestion of rubbing alcohol or bleach,” Dizon said, citing the 2020 data from
the UP-PGH National Poison Management Control Center (NPMCC).
According to the NPMCC, isopropyl/ethyl alcohol ranked #1 among the top
ten agents for pediatric poisoning cases (9.03% of 2,425 cases)
last year, followed by sodium hypochlorite, an active ingredient of bleach
(7.18%). For adult poisoning cases, sodium hypochlorite ranked #1 (10.05%
of 2,726 cases) while isopropyl/ethyl alcohol was 7th (3.26%).
To prevent poisoning, the EcoWaste Coalition urged manufacturers of rubbing
alcohol and bleach products to strictly use proper containers and to
conspicuously label their products.
“Products that are not compliant to packaging and labeling requirements should
be immediately recalled or withdrawn from the market in the interest of public
safety,” said Dizon.
The group also advised the public to observe the following safety
tips to prevent poisoning incidents:
- Carefully read the product label and follow the instructions for safe use and storage.
- Do not mix bleach with acids and other cleaning products, especially those containing ammonia, to avoid creating toxic and potentially deadly gases.
- Always use alcohol and bleach in a well-ventilated area; alcohol should be kept away from open flame as it is combustible.
- Keep alcohol and bleach products in their original containers; do not decant or transfer the liquid into other containers.
- Store alcohol and bleach out of reach of children, as well as pets.
Whenever there is a question of poison exposure, the EcoWaste Coalition urged
the public to contact a medical doctor or call the NPMCC hotline numbers for
advice: 8567-2057, 8554-8400 local 3976 or 0966-7289904.
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