Wednesday, December 28, 2011

Best of 2011: DO NOT Use Antibacterial Soap, Rinse, Repeat

How a seemingly helpful product is nothing but a marketing scam:

DO NOT USE ANTIBACTERIAL SOAP,
RINSE, REPEAT
(THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 3, 2011)

Do not use antibacterial soap.
Do not use antibacterial soap.
Do not use antibacterial soap.

Sure, writing it once would have sufficed, but there are three major reasons to not use antibacterial soap. Any of the three alone would be enough to stop using it, but the triptych should make us run for the hills.

Reason #1: Antibacterial soap, according to a study published in the journal Clinical Infectious Diseases, is “no more effective than plain soap at preventing infectious illness symptoms and reducing bacterial levels on the hands.”

Reason #2: Triclosan, the main chemical in the majority of antibacterial soaps, may actually be weakening our defenses by helping to create even stronger bacteria. (This is similar to how small doses of antibiotics administered to our livestock are linked to the development of bacteria resistant to our current roster of antibiotics.)

Reason #3: Triclosan, according to Karl Tupper, Staff Scientist at the Pesticide Action Network, gets “washed down the drain [and] ultimately ends up in sewage sludge, which is then spread on farm fields as fertilizer.” This wouldn’t be so bad for our food and for us, Tupper says, if triclosan wasn’t “an endocrine disruptor that affects thyroid function, sperm production and the immune system.” Oh, and it also affects fetal development.
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6 comments:

  1. Antibacterial SoapsFebruary 7, 2012 at 7:12 AM

    Hi,

    I am very happy and delighted to find out such an informative blog. This information is very useful also for those who want to know the information about Antibacterial Soaps, and whole grain pasta also. I find a good information about animation related good information as were looking last so many times.

    Thanks & Regards

    ReplyDelete
  2. TeejayFebruary 7, 2012 at 10:35 AM

    First of all, I am glad to find this blog. Keep up good work.

    An additional argument to this article. Majority of the developed countries maintain enough sanitation that the attack of parasites we face in our day-to-day life has reduced significantly and whatever attack we do face, our system is capable of retaliating it. That also keeps the immune system busy.
    When you overuse antibacterials, your immune system has no job to do and it can (not always) result in an autoimmune disorder. This is one of the theory. Of course, there are many many arguments against it. As a patient of an autoimmune disorder myself and a scientist by profession, I concur to this theory. I do maintain same policy in my household but the advertising bodies are so strong that even in my household, it leads to heated arguments at a time.

    Anyone interested in this theory can do google search and get themselves more informed.

    ReplyDelete
  3. Chef RobFebruary 8, 2012 at 1:21 PM

    Teejay,

    I'm glad you found it as well; thanks for reading and I'm happy to hear you enjoy it.

    Very interesting about the autoimmune disorder response. I had no idea!

    ReplyDelete
  4. Jim ThomsonFebruary 13, 2012 at 6:26 AM

    Really good post!!

    Ashe’ Skin Whitening Cream is an exclusive product of Ashe Cosmetics which eliminates dark pigmentations, best face soap, sun-spots, age spots and skin lightening products also helps with discolored skin. http://bit.ly/osgxwh

    ReplyDelete
  5. Chili QueenJanuary 24, 2013 at 5:24 AM

    Wow I had no idea about this! I have antibacterial soap in the kitchen and bathroom. I might have to reconsider now. Thanks for your article. Interesting reading.

    ReplyDelete
  6. UnknownFebruary 11, 2016 at 10:28 AM

    Thanks for telling this. I really don't know these harmful products and use these products tell me some antibacterial soap and chemicals.

    ReplyDelete