/oss/taxonomy/term/2983/all en /oss/article/health-videos/right-chemistry-covid-19-and-hand-sanitizers <p><div class="media-youtube-video media-element file-default media-youtube-1"> <iframe class="media-youtube-player" id="media-youtube-gv4zbymlow4" width="640" height="390" title="Dr. Joe Schwarcz: COVID-19 and hand sanitizers" src="https://www.youtube-nocookie.com/embed/Gv4ZBYmloW4?wmode=opaque&controls=&enablejsapi=1&modestbranding=1&playerapiid=media-youtube-gv4zbymlow4&origin=https%3A//www.mcgill.ca&rel=0" name="Dr. Joe Schwarcz: COVID-19 and hand sanitizers" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen>Video of Dr. Joe Schwarcz: COVID-19 and hand sanitizers</iframe> </div> </p> Mon, 06 Apr 2020 17:09:43 +0000 Joe Schwarcz PhD 8211 at /oss /oss/article/health-you-asked/should-you-let-dog-lick-your-hand-if-you-used-hand-sanitizer <p>There is a “warning” making the rounds that hand sanitizer “has the same ingredients as antifreeze” and that you should not let dogs lick your hands. This warning is based on chemical ignorance. What they are talking about is propylene glycol which is used here as a humectant, meaning it holds in moisture to prevent the hands from drying out. Propylene glycol is indeed found in some antifreeze, particularly in ones that are promoted as being environmentally friendly and having a low toxicity.</p> Fri, 27 Mar 2020 20:16:54 +0000 Joe Schwarcz PhD 8201 at /oss /oss/article/you-asked/should-we-be-anti-all-anti-microbial-products <p>We received a question about antibacterial soaps, namely why should or shouldn’t we be using them? And if we’re supposed to avoid antibacterial soap, why is Purell, an antimicrobial agent, allowed?</p> Thu, 08 Feb 2018 15:29:04 +0000 Ada McVean B.Sc. 6919 at /oss