Don't be fooled by cheap Anti-Bacterial wipes....they use "o-Phenylphenol" a derivative of Phenol.

The State of California officially declared o-Phenylphenol as a known carcinogen.  Phenol, is also known to be drying like alcohols, and therefore bad for your equipment and is also bad for your skin.  In addition, these types of wipes require 2 wipes to actually kill any germs - this doubles the cost!

Check out California's Hazardous Chemical List (Prop 65) for more information on o-Phenylphenol and its danger to your customers.  California listed o-Phenylphenol as a carcinogen on August 4, 2000 and stated that, in addition to cancer, it can also cause birth defects or other reproductive harm - and is therefore also deemed "reproductive toxicants."  Under Proposition 65, businesses are required to provide a "clear and reasonable" warning before knowingly or intentionally exposing anyone to a listed chemical.  Therefore, any fitness facility in California that uses a phenol-based wipe must provide a safety warning to its patrons or face a potential fine.  Penalties from the EPA are a minimum of $2,500 per violation (per container in commerce).

The o-Phenylphenol ruling is based on a 1994 study by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), and also 1983 and 1999 studies by the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC).  Thereafter, the EPA identified o-Phenylphenol as a possible human carcinogen due to an increase in cancer in laboratory studies.

There is tons of information on the web about the dangerous affects of phenol, but you should simply wonder why no large, reputable company currently produces wet wipes or other consumer cleaning products with phenol.  Phenols are simply old and dangerous chemistry that the industry has left in the dust-bin of the early-1990's.

So, in the end, why did everyone stop using phenol and its derivatives and switch to safer alternatives?  The answer is multi-faceted; mainly, the fear stems from "Dermal Penetration".  Phenol and its derivatives have high dermal penetration which means that your clients and employees can absorb phenol much more readily into their blood stream by using a phenol-based product.  The introduction of phenol can be toxic and users of phenol products could experience serious side effects or worse. This rapidly absorbed chemical can cause toxicity throughout the entire body.  Phenol can effect the central nervous system, heart, blood vessels, lungs and kidneys.  These dangers are why chemical companies stopped using phenol and phenol-derivative products.  And, more importantly, this is why 2XL Corporation's products, such as GymWipes and CareWipes, will never use a phenol-based formulation.

You wouldn't let your kids play with toxic chemicals. Why then would you let your clients and employees touch phenol-based wipes or use equipment that has been wiped with them? Toxic chemicals from cleaning products get absorbed directly into their bloodstream, even easier if they are working out and their pores are open.  o-Phenylphenol is bad news...steer clear of these products and vendors that sell it.  Think before you clean!