Any danger from using Hand Sanitizer / Purell?

museumguy · 01/01/2010, 05:47 PM

As a general rule while I'm at work, where I take care of 2000g of fish tanks, I try not to put anything on my hands that I wouldn't put directly into the tank. This is not always possible (i.e. soap while washing hands). One part of my job involves frequent use of Purell alcohol based hand sanitizer.

Once the chemical is evaporated is there anything left that could be detrimental to the tank? I know Purell is alcohol based which evaporates but I assume there are some thickening/coaglutation elements that don't evaporate and would be left as residue to some degree?

Any thoughts?

Thanks!

tahoe61 · 01/01/2010, 05:57 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by museumguy

As a general rule while I'm at work, where I take care of 2000g of fish tanks, I try not to put anything on my hands that I wouldn't put directly into the tank. This is not always possible (i.e. soap while washing hands). One part of my job involves frequent use of Purell alcohol based hand sanitizer.

Once the chemical is evaporated is there anything left that could be detrimental to the tank? I know Purell is alcohol based which evaporates but I assume there are some thickening/coaglutation elements that don't evaporate and would be left as residue to some degree?

Any thoughts?

Thanks!

I am a RN and I have to use that stuff all the time. I would not trust putting my hand in any tank without washing first after using these types of products. Are they using any type of perservatives? And alot of them use types of moisturizers as well. I wash very throughly before I put my hands in my tanks.

jkopp36 · 01/01/2010, 06:03 PM

Isn't the main goal of those sanitizers to kill bacteria? And isn't that what we spend so much time (especially during the initial cycle) to preserve? Of course, I'm no expert on these products. Maybe the active ingredient doesn't last long?

Good question though.

Fig · 01/01/2010, 07:01 PM

http://www.thereeftank.com/compare-m...ective-gloves/

bertoni · 01/01/2010, 07:04 PM

Interesting question. I would recommend wearing gloves if possible, but that is an annoyance. Can you post the brand of hand sanitizer you're using? Some contain ingredients like triclosan, for example, and the formulae do vary.

sjfishguy · 01/01/2010, 07:05 PM

The active ingredient is just alcohol. Once it evaporates you would think it would be no problem. However, my uncle had some on his hands and put his hands in his fish only tank an hour later. The next morning ALL of his fish were dead, all of them.

Andrew17030 · 01/01/2010, 07:52 PM

I use dove hand soap. I asked the same question at my LFS which happens to me Aquatouch anybody that reefs in AZ know this place and they have a very nice store. The answer to my question of what do you wash your hands with was I try to use soap without perfumes or moisturizers. Then I asked what about hand sanitizers? He said I use purell all of the time but I let it dry before I put my hands in the tanks. I still won't use hand sanitizers without washing my hands off to remove anything that was left behind.

museumguy · 01/05/2010, 01:37 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bertoni

Interesting question. I would recommend wearing gloves if possible, but that is an annoyance. Can you post the brand of hand sanitizer you're using? Some contain ingredients like triclosan, for example, and the formulae do vary.

Sorry, stopped getting updates on this post. The brand we use in the museum is Purell. Not sure what formula, etc its just in the big dispensers. I try to wash my hands before putting my hands in the tank, but I am dealing with so many tools, foods, corals etc that make their way into the tank on a daily basis that this isn't always practical.

billsreef · 01/05/2010, 01:54 PM

Rinse well. I use similar sanitizers in my lab, with strict instructions to everyone (professors and students alike) to wash it before going from working with one system to another. So long as you rinse well, no problem

GreshamH · 01/05/2010, 02:45 PM

The bulk Purrell we use here at our facility is 62% Ethyl Alcohol (water, Isopropyl Alcohol, Diisopropyl Sebacate, Glycerin, Isopropyl Myristate, Propylene Glycol, Tocopheryl Acetate, Aminomethyl Propanol, Carbomer & fragrance).

I've used this while working with aquatics for a long time now. I simply let my hands dry then rinse them in tap prior to working in the tank.

01/01/2010, 05:47 PM	#1
museumguy Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: St Louis, MO Posts: 1,089	Any danger from using Hand Sanitizer / Purell? As a general rule while I'm at work, where I take care of 2000g of fish tanks, I try not to put anything on my hands that I wouldn't put directly into the tank. This is not always possible (i.e. soap while washing hands). One part of my job involves frequent use of Purell alcohol based hand sanitizer. Once the chemical is evaporated is there anything left that could be detrimental to the tank? I know Purell is alcohol based which evaporates but I assume there are some thickening/coaglutation elements that don't evaporate and would be left as residue to some degree? Any thoughts? Thanks! __________________ ---------------------------------------- Entomologist

01/01/2010, 07:04 PM	#5
bertoni RC Mod Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: Mountain View, CA, USA Posts: 88,616	Interesting question. I would recommend wearing gloves if possible, but that is an annoyance. Can you post the brand of hand sanitizer you're using? Some contain ingredients like triclosan, for example, and the formulae do vary. __________________ Jonathan Bertoni

01/01/2010, 07:05 PM	#6
sjfishguy Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2003 Location: Delray Beach, FL Posts: 2,212	The active ingredient is just alcohol. Once it evaporates you would think it would be no problem. However, my uncle had some on his hands and put his hands in his fish only tank an hour later. The next morning ALL of his fish were dead, all of them. __________________ Rich nanoTOTM May '08 29 years saltwater, 19 years reefs Current Tank Info: 65 mixed reef

01/05/2010, 01:54 PM	#9
billsreef Moderator 10 & Over Club Join Date: Oct 1999 Location: Long Island, NY/North Miami Posts: 36,538	Rinse well. I use similar sanitizers in my lab, with strict instructions to everyone (professors and students alike) to wash it before going from working with one system to another. So long as you rinse well, no problem __________________ Bill "LOL, well I have no brain apparently. " - dc (Debi) Current Tank Info: Far too many tanks according to my wife, LOL.

01/05/2010, 02:45 PM	#10
GreshamH Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2002 Location: SF Bay Area, CA Posts: 9,474	The bulk Purrell we use here at our facility is 62% Ethyl Alcohol (water, Isopropyl Alcohol, Diisopropyl Sebacate, Glycerin, Isopropyl Myristate, Propylene Glycol, Tocopheryl Acetate, Aminomethyl Propanol, Carbomer & fragrance). I've used this while working with aquatics for a long time now. I simply let my hands dry then rinse them in tap prior to working in the tank. __________________ Gresham _______________________________ Feeding your reef...one polyp at a time

01/01/2010, 06:03 PM	#3
jkopp36 Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2008 Posts: 270	Isn't the main goal of those sanitizers to kill bacteria? And isn't that what we spend so much time (especially during the initial cycle) to preserve? Of course, I'm no expert on these products. Maybe the active ingredient doesn't last long? Good question though.

01/01/2010, 07:01 PM	#4
Fig Registered Member Join Date: May 2001 Location: Iowa Posts: 817	http://www.thereeftank.com/compare-m...ective-gloves/

01/01/2010, 07:52 PM	#7
Andrew17030 Moved On Join Date: May 2009 Location: Phoenix Arizona Posts: 607	I use dove hand soap. I asked the same question at my LFS which happens to me Aquatouch anybody that reefs in AZ know this place and they have a very nice store. The answer to my question of what do you wash your hands with was I try to use soap without perfumes or moisturizers. Then I asked what about hand sanitizers? He said I use purell all of the time but I let it dry before I put my hands in the tanks. I still won't use hand sanitizers without washing my hands off to remove anything that was left behind.