Good Home Co.

Are Antibacterial Products Harmful?

Antibacterial products have gained popularity in the past 10 years. With SARS and the Swine Flu, many people want to take every precaution, however is it actually harmful?

From a report on CBS news (full article at http//newyork.cbslocal.com/2010/08/10/seen-at-11-antibacterial-product-fears/)

“There’s several problems with these chemicals Triclosan and Triclocarban,” Natural Resources Defense Council senior scientist Jennifer Sass said.

Sass said several studies show these chemicals can interfere with hormones like estrogen and testosterone.

“If you are a person who has a genetic susceptibility to a hormone-related cancer like a breast cancer or a prostate cancer, then if this raises or lowers certain hormones that might add to your risk,” Sass said.

Sass said the chemicals have also been linked to developmental problems. Now, her organization is suing the Food and Drug Administration for allegedly failing to regulate their use in consumer goods sooner.

“Our particular concern is when young children are exposed and pregnant women might be exposing their unborn child,” Sass said.

In a statement, the FDA responded saying: “We are engaged in an ongoing scientific and regulatory review…” of the products. The agency went on to say… “FDA does not have sufficient safety evidence to recommend changing consumer use of products…at this time.”

What can we do? First we can use antibacterial products that use alcohol instead of Triclosan and Triclocarban. Alcohol evaporates quickly and sanitizes in a pinch. However studies have shown that over use of antibacterial products, including alcohol, can lower ones natural built in-defense. It has been recommended to use sanitizers when warm soap and water are not available. However when at home or at work, warm soap and water is just as effective, if not more, at killing germs. Remember we need to build a defense against germs and to prohibit our body from developing its own natural defense will definitely cause us more harm than good in the long run.

About 8 years ago, we received a hard push from our customers to produce an anti-bacterial hand soap, but we resisted. While we do have a pocket hand sanitizer for when soap and water are not immediately available – like on a subway or bus – we feel a good washing with hand soap and warm water (while singing the ABC song), worked for us as kids and perhaps it is also what is best for our own kids and grandkids.
Ultimately it is a personal choice, however this article proves that perhaps before using any new, trendy product, that is an OTC drug, we should take more time to really look at the ingredients and ask ourselves if we need improvement on our old ways