Conscious Consumer - No Sale

Antibiotic Soaps

Despite a Food and Drug Administration panel finding products with antibacterial agents are no better than regular soap and water, consumers still spend more than $5.5 million on antibacterial soaps, hand cleaners and detergents annually.

So why are we buying them? There seems to be some confusion around antibacterial and antibiotic. Antibacterial soaps do not prevent colds or flu. They are caused by viruses, not bacteria. In fact, most experts agree unless you are in a hospital environment antibiotic soaps are unnecessary. So what you may ask?

Well at the heart of this discussion is a chemical called triclosan-a biocide that destroys biological structures at random-including the bacteria humans need to develop a healthy immune system. Some scientists claim biocides in products are not necessarily harmful to humans. But evidence is mounting to the contrary. More than 1 million pounds triclosan and sister chemical triclocarban are used in the United States alone and this tonnage is being flushed into our waterways via our sinks.

A recent U.S. Geological Survey has found triclosan is present in 60 percent of the U.S. waterways tested. These questionable germ-fighting chemicals are directly impacting both human and wildlife on this planet. This water is contaminated with a chemical that mimics the thyroid hormone and it is present in our wastewater, in our fish, and in breast milk.

The moral of the story? A vote against the use of triclosan is a vote for personal and environmental health. Triclosan is big business. Manufactured primarily in India and China, large multinationals like Ciba Specialty Chemicals of Switzerland use these chemical agents to produce 'high-value effects" for its customers' products ranging from most of the plastics we use in our homes or at work, to the personal care products we use everyday.

Employing a strong antibiotic agent such as triclosan for everyday use is of questionable value, as it takes a shotgun approach to killing all microscopic organisms while also destroying the beneficial bacteria in the environment and in our bodies. These friendly bacteria cause no harm and often produce beneficial effects, such as aiding our metabolism and inhibiting the invasion of the harmful pathogens.

So make your dollar count. Save your money, your health and the environment and don't purchase antibacterial products. Regular soap and water are just as effective.

 

OP