Benzyl Alcohol Analysis

Benzyl alcohol is a colorless liquid with a pungent taste and slight odour. It is used in industry, in the production of other benzyl compounds, in perfumery and flavoring. In the medical field, it is used as a pharmaceutical product, as an anti-parasitic drug to treat head lice. However, this medicine is only used to treat head lice, it does not treat lice on other body parts.

Benzyl alcohol is also used as a common preservative in many injectable drugs.

Benzyl alcohol and benzoic acid have been associated with toxicity and death in neonates who received injectable wash or lavage saline solutions containing benzyl alcohol in the past. Newborns cannot adequately metabolize benzyl alcohol, especially if they are sick. High concentrations can cause breathing difficulties, vasodilation, low blood pressure, seizures and paralysis. Wash solutions containing preservatives are now labeled as to be avoided in neonates.

Benzyl alcohol may also rarely cause hypersensitivity reactions such as contact dermatitis and rash. Other injectable medications containing low doses of benzyl alcohol preservatives are generally considered safe for newborns.

Briefly, benzyl alcohol is an aromatic alcohol. Benzyl alcohol is metabolized in the body to benzoic acid. Due to its preservative properties, it is used as an excipient (auxiliary chemical in drug production), as a solubilizing agent or as a fragrance.

Benzyl alcohol is mainly used as an excipient in medicinal products such as antibiotics, where its anesthetic properties reduce pain at the injection site. Benzyl alcohol is also found in intravenous medicinal products (such as cancer drugs and cardiovascular drugs). Finally, benzyl alcohol is used as a preservative in many topical medications such as antifungal and anti-inflammatory products.

The main problem with the use of benzyl alcohol is the risk of accumulation in newborn babies due to metabolic immaturity. Most poisonings with the accumulation of benzyl alcohol are fatal.

The European Commission's Food Science Board and the American Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) reviewed benzyl alcohol data based on animal toxicity data and added 0-5 mg/kg body weight benzyl alcohol to the acceptable daily intake group.

Our organization also provides benzyl alcohol analysis services with its trained and expert staff and advanced technological equipment, among the numerous test, measurement, analysis and evaluation studies it provides for businesses in various sectors.