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

Background: 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. Objective: To provide an overview of antimicrobial functional ingredients in hand sanitizer products marketed to the public in Wuhan, China. Methods: 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. Results: 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. Conclusion: 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.