Antibacterial Cleaners Do More Harm Than Good
by Lloyd Alter, Toronto on 06.21.07
John previously noted that the triclosan in antibacterial soaps and cleaners was a gender bender that was disrupting the natural grown of frogs and was found in 55% of the rivers and streams in America, and provided a long and surprising list of products that included triclosan. (Its in toothpaste!)
Now we learn from Scientific American that it does more harm than good. It appears that after, say, spraying a counter with an antibiotic cleaner, some chemicals linger and continue to kill bacteria but don't get all of them. The ones that survive develop a tolerance: "What doesn't kill you makes you stronger" Soon we have populations of antibiotic resistant bacteria.
"What is this stuff doing in households when we have soaps?" asks molecular biologist John Gustafson of New Mexico State University in Las Cruces. These substances really belong in hospitals and clinics, not in the homes of healthy people." ::Scientific American
We reprint John's partial list of products to avoid below the fold.
Noxzema Triple Clean Antibacterial Lathering Cleanser
Colgate Total Toothpaste, Fresh Stripe
Revlon ColorStay LipSHINE Lipcolor Plus Gloss, Solar
Gentle Antibacterial Body Soap with Moisture Beads
Clearasil Daily Face Wash
Shield Deodorant Soap Bar, Surf Scent
Softsoap Gentle Antibacterial Body Wash with Vitamins
Aveeno Therapeutic Shave Gel
Softsoap Fruit Antibacterial Liquid Hand Soap
Right Guard Sport, Deodorant Aerosol, Fresh
Right Guard Sport, Clear Stick Deodorant
Suave Deodorant Soap, Antibacterial
Old Spice High Endurance Stick Deodorant,
pHisoderm Antibacterial Skin Cleanser
Softsoap Liquid Antibacterial Body Soap
Clean and Smooth Antibacterial Liquid Hand Soap
Old Spice Red Zone Antiperspirant & Deodorant
Colgate Total Toothpaste
Revlon ColorStay LipSHINE Lipcolor Plus Gloss
New Vaseline Brand Intensive Care Antibacterial Hand Lotion
Lever 2000 Soap Bar Antibacterial
Lever 2000 Deodorant Soap Bar
Imina Lathering Facial Cleanser
Softsoap 2 in 1 Antibacterial Hand Soap Plus Moisturizing Lotion
Softsoap Antibacterial Liquid Hand Soap with Light Moisturizers
Right Guard Sport, Deodorant Aerosol
Suave Liquid Hand Soap, Antibacterial
Bath & Body Instant AntiBacterial Hand Gel-Freesia
Dial Liquid Antibacterial Soap, Original Formula
Clean and Smooth Kitchen Antibacterial Liquid Hand Soap
Hmm... I've been recommended antibacterials for both my mouth (by my doctor, I am HIV+ and Total toothpaste is usually recommended by HIV healthcare advocates). Also, I've always had a huge problem with ingrown hairs, antibacterials soap is one of the only ways to prevent this at least as recommended by another doctor. Now I'm going to have to rethink all of this and what the trade-off to my own comfort and health are.
i'm shocked to find my shaving cream on that list (Aveeno). stupid me for operating under the assumption that products that contain Triclosan would brag about it noticeably on the *front* of the label, and not just in the ingredients list.
Too much of a sterile environment is a bad thing. People need background innoculation from natural sources, and they get that from ordinary, unnoticed background dirt. Antibacterials should be limited to hospitals, and public bathrooms during flu season.
You want to keep your environment clean by removing noticable buildups of dirt and grease, which over time can breed unpleasant germs, but you don't want to sterilize the underlying substrate. Then you can't develop any natural immunity!
Note that an antibacterial soap will not be as effective on a virus (flu) as on a bacteria.
its also a very sad story for the wild life, i would just to know who approves these chemicals, and why do we have so many in circulation when we know they alter life? I guess these agancies assume gender bending fish and frogs that cant reproduce is an ok trade off?
then what's a good alternative liquid hand soap?
Dr. Bronner's is good liquid soap that, to my knowledge, is all natural with no artificial antibacterial additives, and comes in about 6 scents, including unscented.
>>then what's a good alternative liquid hand soap?
Also try regular liquid soap and add a bit of the following essential oils : Tea Tree, Lemon, Peppermint.
Thisis exactly what I keep trying to tell everyone... I've been less sick living without antibacterials than I am living with them. Everyone at my work overdoses on the hand sanitizer then wonders why they get so sick... unfortunately I have a premature baby in the NICU so I'm required to use hand sanitizer constantly while in the hospital.. and when touching anything that will come in contact with him.