Isopropyl Alcohol is Where?

Isopropyl alcohol, or rubbing alcohol, is a colourless liquid, with a very strong chemical odour that normally makes your nose burn (1).  So we all know that it comes out of a bottle, you probably have one in your house, your mom uses it to disinfect the bathroom, you’ve probably put it on a zit or two, but what else is it in?  You might be surprised to find out that its in just about everything, that isn't food. Here is a small list just to give you an example(1).

Shampoo

Moistuizer

Hair spray

Cleaning products

Now this chemical is known for killing bacteria, it does so by damaging the surrounding membrane(2).  This damage is irreparable and leads to the death of the bacteria.  Most people probably know that the cells in our body are surrounded by a very similar membrane, and yes it does the same kind of damage.  So if it is damaging us why are we still using it?  These types of products include rubbing alcohol because it’s a disinfectant.  After you wash your face you don’t really want to rub more bacteria into your skin, the rubbing alcohol kills the bacteria that could be present, keeping it safe for your skin.  The damage that is done to the cells on the surface is usually negligible because there are several layers and they constantly regenerate. 

Too much rubbing alcohol though can do a lot of damage.  It can cause skin rashes and burns if there is too much or over a long period of time.  If ingested it will not disinfect your insides, but instead will damage the liver and the kidneys which can lead to organ if the damage is extensive (1).  

So rubbing alcohol is good to kill bacteria, but a small or dilute amount is important.  Be careful when using it and always read the labels before using it.

References 

1. Isopropyl Alcohol, 70%; MSDS No. SLI1669 [Online]; Science lb: Houston, TX, Oct 9, 2005. http://www.sciencelab.com/msds.php?msdsId=9924413 (accessed March 4, 2017)

2. Willey, J. M.; Sherwood, L. M.; Woolverton, C. J. The Use of Chemical Agents in Control. In Microbiology, Colin Wheatley; New York, 2008; 158-164.

Image source: https://pixabay.com/en/photos/bacteria/?image_type=vector (accessed mar 15, 2017). Reprint with permission.