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Tuesday, April 21, 2009

Are Anti-bacterial products really safe?



This is what I read the other day and I truly believe it :


If you're going to get infected by bacteria, it's not the 99.9% that's going to make a home out of you - it's the rare 0.1% that's dangerous. Consumers who purchase and use products that contain antibacterial chemicals, such as triclosan, kill off the weak, harmless bacteria (99.9%) and ensure the really bad 0.1% survive to multiply in your bathroom and elsewhere - sometimes millions per day.
The practice of overusing antibacterial chemicals enriches numbers of dangerous bacteria in normal populations - effectively "selecting" them - which increases our chances of getting sick or infected by strains that antibiotic drugs are increasingly ineffective against.

This is not something that the mass marketeers tell you about because sensationalizing that all bacteria are bad sells their product.


Bacteria are everywhere and most are harmless. All of them compete for the same resources to survive, but killing the harmless ones allows the harmful strains to flourish like fast-growing weeds in a freshly tilled field. A reasonable daily personal care routine using natural soaps is adequate to protect you from these dangerous bacteria. These strains are rare, and we need to keep them that way. Using consumer products labeled as "Antibacterial" is unnecessary and actually increases our infection risks, yet the solution is easy: Don't purchase consumer products labeled "Antibacterial."


Any soap with warm water, used for 15 seconds or more, will kill germs on the body.


1 comment:

Beth said...

Great post! Thanks for spreading the word on the dangers of Triclosan. The more people who know about this toxic chemical the better.
There are a lot of natural sanitizers out there that are very effective and very safe. CleanWell is one I recently reviewed and my blog. I now can't go anywhere without it!
Also, if you are concerned about the dangers of Triclosan you are not alone. The Breast Cancer Fund and Food & Water Watch are making it easier for the average citizen to make their voices heard by the EPA. Check out my blog post if you would like to know more and take action. http://spotsonmyapples.blogspot.com/2009/05/saying-no-to-triclosan-make-your-voice.html
Thanks!