By: Benel D. Lagua
This post originally appeared in The Manila Times
Benel D. Lagua
PIPAC Board Member
An infographic published by Compound Interest shows how hand sanitizers protect users from infections. Alcohol in hand sanitizers alter (denature) the structure of proteins. It destroys the cell wall and membranes of bacteria cells, and the envelope of viruses, including the coronavirus. Non-alcohol-based sanitizers also kill bacteria, but are less effective against viruses.
For this reason, alcohol-based sanitizers have enjoyed a boom. New manufacturers are joining the proverbial bandwagon by flooding the market with them. It is now like food, an essential item we cannot live without in our everyday lives. Yes, clean hands save lives.
But of course, not all alcohol products are created equal. First, the alcohol percentage must be at least 60 percent and should be applied generously. The volume should be enough to cover all areas of both hands to eliminate viruses and bacteria in places where they could linger. Technically, this is about 3 millimeters, or about a palmful.
The Philippine Institute of Pure and Applied Chemistry (Pipac), an independent nonprofit scientific institute, has issued an advisory telling consumers to ensure sanitizers do not contain a dangerous chemical, methanol. It advises them to buy reputable products from trustworthy vendors and, if possible, demand a certificate of analysis.
According to institute director Dr. Armand Guidote Jr., there are many substandard products around us and consumers need to be vigilant about them. An alcohol-based sanitizer is supposed to protect, but could it lead to adverse effects? There is a need to ensure the quality and safety of both consumer and industrial products, such as food and beverages, pharmaceuticals, and cosmetics and agro-chemicals. Pipac has observed many instances where chemical and microbiological analysis can make a difference in our lives.
Products should be safe and contain the correct and accepted amounts of ingredients claimed on the label. Let’s consider some areas for which the services of testing agencies like Pipac would become imperative.
There were news of counterfeit drugs recently, including paracetamol, which is commonly used for pain and flu. It is always advisable to buy medication from FDA-licensed establishments. And we need testing standards that must be required of both manufacturers and retailers.
Fish and other types of seafood not only provide people with nutrition, but also doses of tiny plastic particles, or microplastics. Do our seafood, especially those canned, undergo analysis for contamination to aid risk assessment for the consumer?
The Department of Trade and Industry is encouraging domestic manufacturers of personal protective equipment (PPE), especially medical-grade ones for frontliners, to produce more. What standards and tests are being introduced to ensure the quality of the medical-grade face masks and coveralls?
Many Filipinos have been crazy over milk tea. Not many know that the nondairy creamer many milk-tea bars use may contain trans-fatty acid (TFA), a toxic fat. It may lead to heart disease and diabetes, which may put people who consume TFA at risk for Covid-19. The World Health Organization aims to get rid of TFA. Denmark and Argentina have imposed limits on it. The US, Canada, and Thailand imposed bans on hydrogenated oils, the process that produces TFAs. In the Philippines, there is a bill on the subject. In the meantime, we should encourage TFA analysis.
In a recent news article, the Department of Science and Technology has found that about 82 percent of honey products sold in the Philippines are actually sugar or corn syrups. That is an alarming 62 out of the 76 honey brands tested. Also, 75 percent, or 12 out of the 16 Philippine honey brands sold in groceries or souvenir shops, are adulterated. If consumers are being misled, what standards and procedures can we put in place to solve this anomaly?
The pipes used in construction could release toxic chromium into tap water and pose a risk to the drinking public. Metals of this nature need to be subjected to chromium analysis. Laboratory analysis is also a must for managing wastewater. Metro Manila alone generates about 2 million cubic meters of wastewater every day.
Other notable examples include evaluating glutathione and other similar products whose claims do not match actual contents; assisting small and medium enterprises in producing fine-quality coffee by reviewing coffee chemistry; analyzing minerals and heavy metals in blood; testing rice for arsenic; reviewing the chemistry of detergents; checking the use of PFA chemicals known to have harmful effects on liver, kidney and immunology in carpets, food packaging, and nonstick coatings; and reviewing the contents of herbal drugs, like lagundi, sambong and some questioned prescriptions for hypertension.
This columnist’s wish for 2021 is for improved consumer protection through appropriate use of testing and laboratory analysis in the many products we use daily. We have to get science and chemistry to better the lives of our children. While government regulatory standards are good starting points, industry must take the initiative to perform regular product testing for our sake.
Like singer Blake Shelton said: “One thing you can’t fake is chemistry.”
Benel D. Lagua is a former executive vice president and chief development officer at the Development Bank of the Philippines. He is an active Finex member and advocate of risk-based lending for SMEs. The views expressed here are his own and does not necessarily reflect the opinion of his office and of Finex.