Gasoline must not be used as disinfectant, chemists warn public

An association of chemists in the country on Friday warned the public against the use of gasoline as a disinfectant.

"Pinapaalalahanan ng ICP (Integrated Chemists of the Philippines) ang lahat na HINDI ginagamit ang gasolina upang gawing panlinis o disinfectant ng mga bagay-bagay. Makasasama ito sa tao lalo na kapag nalanghap ang singaw nito," the ICP said in a Facebook post.

The group's statement came as President Rodrigo Duterte said he was not joking when he advised people last week that gasoline can be used as disinfectant.

“Totoo’ yang sinabi ko, alcohol. ‘Pag walang alcohol available hindi ka naman puwede lalo mahirap pupunta ka lang diyan sa gasoline station pagkatapos magpatulo. That’s disinfectant,” Duterte said.

Both the Department of Health and presidential spokesperson Harry Roque earlier said Duterte was only joking when he said that face masks can be disinfected through gasoline.—AOL, GMA News