triclosan

When you’re going to have a baby, or just had a baby, it’s instinctive to become fiercely protective. Newborn babies’ immune systems are just developing, and all parents want to avoid germs, illness and disease. In an effort to help protect against germs and bacteria many parents turn to popular ‘antibacterial’ products. But some may wonder if these products are really as safe and effective as they claim.

Most of the available antibacterial handsoaps on the market today contain Triclosan. Triclosan ends up in our streams, lakes and rivers killing microscopic organisms because it is immune to most water treatments. This harmful killing if organisms effects our fisheries and the life forms that eat the fish, thereby disrupting our whole ecosystem. Triclosan ends up in our drinking water as well.

Today about 75% of liquid soaps are antibacterials. But there is an ongoing controversy over the active ingredients found in these hand soaps, triclosan and quarternary ammonium compounds. Extensive studies have shown that triclosan causes skin irritations, kills human mesoderm tissues, and causes extensive damage to our environment. Surprisingly, recent research has shown that antimicrobial soaps are ineffective, outside a sterile hospital setting and are actually causing more harm to our society than good!