What makes Chemtex Alstasan Hand Rub one of the top hand sanitizer brands

Substantial use of alcohol-based hand sanitizer on hands in recent months has become more counterproductive with manufacturers adding just about anything to make it to the top shelves. Little do we know the harmful additions to alcohol which reach our hands over and over.

WHO recommends the use of hand sanitizers with at least 60% Ethanol or Isopropanol for an effective germ kill. But is the one on your hands having the right additive mix?

The demand for hand sanitizers has grown up by a healthy 85% in India today if compared to December 2019 with almost three-fifth demand fulfilled. Since the manufacturing process is rather simple, we saw the emergence of mushroom companies which may get the 60% alcohol content hand sanitizer right, but not the other 40%.

The ‘No’ that need to be addressed:

• Wood alcohol or Methanol is toxic when absorbed through skin. It usually smells bad, dur to addition of methanol, acetonic or other harmful chemicals
• Denatured Alcohol, as they contain benzene a known human carcinogen and should not be consumed or even handled with bare hands
• Addition of antimicrobial Quaternary Ammonium Compounds like Benzalkonium Chloride to reduce the actual alcohol content, minimizing product cost are inadequate against pathogens
• For thicker and luxuriant formulation, manufacturers use carbomers or acrylates which reduce the alcohol efficacy is essentially liquid plastic
• Addition of thickening agents such as glycerin are known to lower the potential of ethanol
• Colourful hand sanitizers are nice to see but are all the colours used even permissible or not. All that glitters is not gold!

The Gel Vs. Liquid Race

Gel based sanitizers are viscous and do not flow easily. Moreover, it takes near about 30 – 40 seconds to act against germs present on our hands. With the average being 0.125 – 0.45 microns big, can easily live between our microscopic skin cracks, whereas the smallest gel-based particle is of 3.5 microns, and ergo the gel cannot reach.

Chemtex Alstasan Hand Rub – Clinical Grade Alcohol based Hand Sanitizer

Chemtex hand sanitizer ingredients include 70% IP grade Ethanol, and 2.5% Chlorhexidine Gluconate, with permissible emollients and moisturizers in purified water. With a refreshing lemon fragrance, it comes in an easy and convenient packaging. The product is licensed under Drug Controller General of India and comes from the house of Chemtex.

Buy Original. Buy Online.

http://www.chemtex.shop

Replacing Sodium Hypochlorite with Double Chain QAC based Disinfectant

Remember that pungent smell when mass disinfection of public places occurs. That same irritating smell you can relate to in swimming pools, and your eyes itch and redden, and your skin itches, and there is a big board saying “Chlorine in pool”, that’s hypochlorous acid, viz., when sodium hypochlorite breaks down.

Sodium hypochlorite/ Hypo (NaOCl) is inorganic chlorine based liquid disinfectant, available as aqueous solutions of 5.25% – 6.15% (household bleach) or concentrated 12% NaOCl solutions.

Large quantities are also used as a disinfectant in water and wastewater treatment and sanitary equipment. In food processing, sodium hypochlorite is used to sanitize food preparation equipment, in fruit and vegetable processing, mushroom production, hog, beef and poultry production, and fish processing.

Typical Uses of Hypo:

• 2%: Shock Chlorination of Wells
• 3 – 6%: Household Disinfectant, Laundering Clothes, Dentistry Root Canal Treatment, Dairy Industry, Disinfectant in Hospitals, Food Processing, Mushroom Production, Hog, Beef, and Poultry Productions, Maple Syrup Production, Fish Processing, etc.
• 12 – 16%: Disinfectant in Swimming Pools, Water Treatment, Waste Water Treatment, Pavement Spraying, Mass Disinfection.

 

So, where does Sodium Hypochlorite go wrong?

 

There are five types of Chlorine available in the market; Sodium hypochlorite, Lithium hypochlorite, Calcium hypochlorite, Dichlor, and Trichlor. The first three are unstable, unlike the stable last two.

Sodium hypochlorite with water breaks into hypochlorite ions that increase the overall pH of the system; we know pathogens that can survive alkaline atmosphere. Also, the high pH of hypochlorite will attack metals and generates hydrogen gas when in contact with aluminum, it even eats through connecting glue (fumed silica), threaded fittings, etc. Decomposition occurs faster at higher temperatures and concentrations and with metal contamination. General fiberglass tanks are used, at cooler temperatures to prevent hazards of hypo. If hypochlorite is exposed to acid or ammonia, chlorine gas will be released.

If the water hardness is exceedingly high, the high pH hypochlorite precipitates the calcium and magnesium, leading to scaling problem.

Mixing anything with hypochlorite can be extremely dangerous. Contact between hypochlorite and other chemicals such as alum, ferric, or sodium bisulphate, can cause an uncontrolled explosive release of energy, heat, and chlorine gas.

Hypo efficacy becomes limited when it comes in contact with more than 80% organic matter, neutralizing its oxidation effects. Hypo breaks down under sunlight, taking away the residual activity and the contact period.

Human Contact Hazards:

• Sodium Hypochlorite and ammonia mix, forms a dangerous gas potentially leading to choking and breathing difficulty.
• Avoid swallowing and getting sodium hypochlorite in the eyes or on the skin. Produces eye irritation, skin irritation and whitening, inhalation of fumes produce throat, esophageal, and gastric burns.
• Mutagenic and toxic when it comes in contact with ammonium salts, listed under Class 8 Corrosive Substances. Chronic (long-term) exposure to chlorine gas in workers has resulted in respiratory effects, including eye and throat irritation and airflow obstruction.
• Residual chlorine molecules react with this harmless organic material to form a group of chlorinated chemical compounds, THMs (Trihalomethanes): Dibromochloromethane (CHClBr₂), Bromoform (CHBr₃), Chloroform (CHCl₃), and Dichlorobromomethane (CHCl₂Br). They are tasteless and odourless, but harmful and potentially toxic.

Alstasan II 256: Our Safe Alternative

Alstasan II 256 is specifically formulated with double chain Quaternary Compounds which on application completely eradicates pathogens, inclusive of sporicidal bacteria and enveloped viruses such the coronavirus.

QACs are surface active agents which interlinks with the cell membrane of pathogens, altering its structure and its water-repelling attribute, because of which it is considered super effectual against lipid-enveloped viruses. The R group present in Quaternary Ammonium Compound’s structure with long double alkyl chains enables prompt neutralization of organic matter’s synthesis in the microbial cell, denaturing their essential cellular enzymes and proteins, and distorting it completely.

Application Areas: Spraying in Infected/ critical areas, high traffic public areas such as metro stations, movie theatres, malls, showrooms, offices, F&B preparation areas, pavements, floors, railway platforms, dip tray for shoes, air fumigating of closed indoor spaces.

Key Features:

• Highly effective virudical chemical with de-odourizer
• Non-tainting nature, safe for use on most MoC (Materials of Construction)
• Easy to dose and apply; dilute at recommended concentration and mopped
• Leaves a refreshing fragrance post usage
• Multiple applications of spraying, mopping, fumigation

Dominance of Alstasan II 256 over Sodium Hypochlorite:

Double chain QAC blends are highly effective especially over vegetative bacteria and enveloped viruses like SARS-CoV-2, inhibiting their spread and replication within seconds of application at lower use concentration (USEPA approved formulation)

• QAC’s are considered as good wetting agents and spreads over a wide area with acute piercing ability, at an application dosage 1/10^thof Hypo.
• Non-corrosive, non-tainting, compatible with materials
• Ensures prolonged sterilization and does not breakdown owing to sunlight and/or organic matter
• Leaves fresh minty fragrance, not irritating pungent smell.
• Non-mutagenic blend.

Chemtex Speciality Limited have introduced a new kit, named COVID-19 Bio-Security Package to look after the major cleaning and sanitation issues faced by In-house, Commercial, Health Care and Industrial sectors. To neutralize the adverse affects of harmful biological vulnerabilities, mostly microscopic viruses like SARS-CoV-2, Chemtex has brought an all round solution with right mixture of chemical science and technology, adhering to WHO guidelines and years of expertise.

Order your Bio-security Package kit right here

Sterilization in Hospitals

Global case studies say that about three-fifth of hospital admitted people get infected through communicable diseases, these are called nosocomial infections or HAI (Hospital Acquired Infections), and are avoidable.

Hospitals and other healthcare units are places known for their selfless service. But, these places are prone to some of the most infectious diseases with high chances of from human to human, or human to fomite to human contamination. Those involved personnel could be doctors, and staff, or patient. Hence, every step should be taken for their safety and precautionary measures should be opted for at regular intervals.

Sterilization is a process carried out to eliminate or neutralize all forms of microbial life such as bacteria, viruses, spores, etc. from a targeted area.  Any application can be considered germs free and can be used for contact purposes if tagged Sterilized.

Sterilization in hospitals is considered a regular and needful practice carried out in each and every critical and non-critical areas such as operation theaters (OT), wards, corridors, HVAC/ AC ventilations, toilets, patient facilities, ICU, ICCU, CCU, ITU, pathology labs, etc. These places are vulnerable to communicable harmful bacterial, viral strains affect humans, even life-threatening. The indoor atmosphere and its surfaces are the most that human beings come in direct contact with and become fomites.

Therefore, the first and the foremost thing to do is regular indoor air sanitation and surface disinfection through spraying, wiping or fumigation.Secondly, all equipment must be properly cleaned and disinfected as they directly come in contact. Similarly proper disinfection of wards and corridors should be implemented as maximum patients and their relatives wait in these places for their turn and treatment. The most sensitive areas viz., toilets,washrooms should not be ignored and needs to be regularly cleaned and disinfected.

Using enzymatic detergents and surfactants may give outer cleanliness but cannot ensure proper sanitation, leading to massive spread of infectious microorganisms. What is needed is proper disinfecting chemical which on application, through sterilization will ensure maximum sanitation and optimum disinfection.

Option? Chemical Sterilization. Why? Feasible, Cost Effective, Broad Spectrum Efficacy, Saves Time and Labor, over all types of microbes. Chemicals like Hydrogen Peroxide, Alcohol, and Quaternary Ammonium Compounds can be used as highly effective disinfectants owing to their dedicated chemical attributes.

Alcohol with a low boiling point, disrupts cellular structure of microorganisms on contact basis, and dries up.

QACs or Quaternary Ammonium Compounds have long alkyl chains, broadly effective over pathogens.

Hydrogen Peroxide, rapid oxidizing agent, ruptures cell membrane and nuclei of microbial cells, and breaks down into water and oxygen. FDA has approved 7.5% hydrogen peroxide as hospital disinfectant.

And these disinfectant chemicals do not possess residual toxicity, not develop antibiotic resistance.

Chemtex Speciality Limited manufactures wide range of broad spectrum disinfectants based on alcohol, QACs,hydrogen peroxide aided with cleaner tailor made for hospitals and pharma, effectively eliminating almost all types of pathogens be it bacteria, fungi or virus.

Know more: http://www.chemtexltd.com

Wash those fomite infected hands!

What are fomites? 

Inanimate objects that form a secondary route of exposure for person-to-person transmissions. Any object that we may come in contact with can serve as fomites, doorknobs, elevator buttons, hand rails, phones, cab doors, keyboards, toys, even clothing.

Respiratory droplets are propelled into the air by sneezing and coughing. The aerosol generated by coughing and sneezing contain droplets of moisture of varying sizes laden with pathogens. The largest droplets are more likely to fall to the floor. Medium sized ones are more likely to enter the nasal passages of someone nearby, causing infection. The moisture in the smallest particles tends to evaporate rapidly, resulting in the formation of so-called droplet nuclei, which are light and can remain airborne for longer periods. These can travel from room to room or through ventilation ducts; owing to their small size and weight, their movement is mostly dictated by air currents, and, if inhaled, they can flow with inhaled air far down the respiratory tract, reaching the alveoli. Respiratory droplets can also contaminate inanimate objects (fomites) via coughing or sneezing or by transform from hands contaminated with a sneeze or cough. Ergo, one can become infected by touching a person or inanimate object that is contaminated and then rubbing one’s eyes or allowing the infectious particles to enter the nose or mouth.

Needless to say, hand washing is the single most effective way to prevent the spread of infections.

There is no rule per-se when to wash your hands, however WHO recommends the following instances with priority:

• After coughing and sneezing
• Tending the sick
• Before, during and after food preparation
• After toilet use
• Hands visibly dirty
• After handling animals/ animal waste

 

Alcohol based Hand Sanitizer – Why?

Alcohol rapidly inhibits the infectious activities of microbial agents present on the skin surfaces as soon as it comes in contact with them. The alcohol directly attacks the cell wall of the micro-organisms, ruptures it completely before charging into membrane wall and nuclei. Since alcohol’s boiling point is low, the heat generated due to rubbing off hands evaporates particles, taking germs with them. Independent of water and towel, it provides a reliable prolonged antimicrobial effect. Not only does it give great feel but also enhances skin hydration.

 

“As the COVID-19 outbreak continues to evolve, comparisons have been drawn to influenza. Firstly, COVID-19 and influenza viruses have a similar disease presentation. That is, they both cause respiratory disease, which presents as a wide range of illness from asymptomatic or mild through to severe disease and death. Secondly, both viruses are transmitted by contact, droplets and fomites. As a result, the same public health measures, such as hand hygiene and good respiratory etiquette (coughing into your elbow or into a tissue and immediately disposing of the tissue), are important actions all can take to prevent infection.”, World Health Organization