Can gasoline be used as disinfectant? DOH parries question

MANILA, Philippines — After President Rodrigo Duterte remarked in his briefing that gasoline could be used to disinfect masks and hands, many asked whether it is really safe to do it?

Duterte’s statements prodded a reporter to ask whether such methods are approved and safe for humans, but the Department of Health (DOH) did not offer any direct answer.

Health Undersecretary Maria Rosario Vergeire did not confirm whether gasoline or diesel is safe to use and instead said that DOH and the Food and Drug Administration is recommending handwashing and alcohol use.

“Kung wala pong magagamit na malinis na tubig at sabon, inire-rekomenda po ng DOH at FDA na gumamit po ng alcohol or alcohol-based hand sanitizer,” Vergeire said on Tuesday.

“Ang mga alcohol po dapat ay naglalaman ng 70 percent ethyl alcohol or isopropyl alcohol samantalang ang alcohol-based hand sanitizers ay dapat po naglalaman ng 60 percent ethyl alcohol or isopropyl alcohol,” she added.

Vergeire said that such a volume of alcohol is needed to ensure that microbes, bacteria, and viruses are eradicated.

Discussion about using gasoline and diesel to clean masks and hands came after President Duterte suggested that people who cannot afford aerosol disinfectant sprays can use fuel to remove the virus.

Hand sanitizing and the wearing of masks have been part of the new normal way of life, especially for people leaving their homes and for those returning back to work.

“Maski na gamitin mo ‘yan dalawang beses okay man, i-sprayan mo nalang ng alcohol… Pagkatapos ng araw, hang it somewhere i-sprayan mo ng Lysol if you can afford it. ‘Yung wala, ibabad mo ng gasolina o diesel,” he said in his briefing aired on Tuesday morning.

This is not the first time a world leader was ridiculed for raising possible COVID-19 solutions that may endanger the health of people even more.

Last April, United States president Donald Trump drew flak from both the public and health experts after he speculated whether injecting disinfectants would solve the coronavirus problem. [ac]