# Antimicrobial functional ingredients used in hand hygiene products: a cross-sectional survey on regional e-commerce platforms in Wuhan area of China

## TL;DR

This study surveyed hand sanitizer products in Wuhan, China, revealing a shift toward alcohol-free sanitizers with diverse antimicrobial ingredients.

## Contribution

The study provides the first detailed survey of antimicrobial ingredients in hand sanitizers on e-commerce platforms in Wuhan.

## Key findings

- Alcohol-free sanitizers dominate the market, with benzalkonium chloride as a key ingredient.
- Natural antimicrobial ingredients were found in 2.1% of products.
- Triclosan/triclocarban use is declining, replaced by alternatives like BAC and CX.

## Abstract

Hand hygiene products containing antimicrobial functional ingredients have become daily products for many people during the post-pandemic period. However, their current market scenarios have not been well explored.

To provide an overview of antimicrobial functional ingredients in hand sanitizer products marketed to the public in Wuhan, China.

This cross-sectional product survey was conducted in September 2023. Information about existing hand hygiene products available online for household use was obtained from 2 major local e-commerce platforms in the Wuhan area of China: Tmall Supermarket and Jingdong Supermarket.

A total of 674 hand sanitizer products were included in the survey, which were evenly divided into alcohol-based and alcohol-free sanitizers. More than 22 non-alcoholic compounds were used in alcohol-free hand sanitizer products, among which the top 5 major ingredients were benzalkonium chloride (BAC), iodine-based compounds, chloroxylenol (CX), hypochlorous acid, and polyhexamethylene biguanide. A majority (83.2%) of hand sanitizer products available on e-commerce platforms were single-ingredient formulations, with the remaining 16.8% containing sanitizers in combination. Triclosan (TCS)/triclocarban (TCC)-containing products accounted for 4.2% of all the included products and 8.3% of alcohol-free products; their recognized alternatives BAC/benzethonium chloride/CX had replaced the role of TCS/TCC in hand sanitization, especially in liquid hand rubs, antiseptic hand wipes, and liquid soaps. A total of 13 natural antimicrobial ingredients were identified in 2.1% of all the products.

There was a booming and diversified hand sanitizer market in Wuhan, China during the post-pandemic era. A market shift from alcohol-based to alcohol-free hand sanitizers has emerged.