The European Union (EU) is thinking about labelling ethanol, a chemical found in alcohol and cleaning products, as a dangerous substance that could cause cancer. This move could have serious effects, especially for hospitals and public health, as many hand sanitisers and disinfectants contain ethanol. The news was first reported by the Financial Times.

Ethanol is best known as the main ingredient in alcoholic drinks. But it is also widely used in hand sanitisers, cleaning products, and hospital disinfectants because it kills viruses, bacteria, and fungi. During the COVID-19 pandemic, ethanol-based sanitisers became essential for keeping hands and surfaces clean.

In April this year, the EU started reviewing ethanol’s safety under a law called the Biocidal Products Regulation (BPR). This law requires a deep safety check for any chemical used as a disinfectant. The European Chemicals Agency (ECHA), which is doing the review, raised concerns that ethanol could be linked to cancer and problems with reproduction.

However, most of the health concerns are based on drinking alcohol, not from using ethanol in sanitisers or cleaning products. When people drink alcohol, ethanol enters the blood in high amounts and can increase the risk of cancer. The World Health Organization (WHO) supports this, saying alcohol is clearly linked to cancer. But this applies to alcoholic drinks, not to pure ethanol used on the skin or for cleaning.

The International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC), which is part of the WHO, has listed alcoholic beverages as “Group 1 carcinogens”, meaning they clearly cause cancer. But pure ethanol, by itself, has not been classified in the same way.

The EU asked for public feedback about safer alternatives to ethanol, with the consultation period ending on April 30. Experts worry that if ethanol is restricted, it could affect many cleaning products used in hospitals, homes, and public places.