Antibacterial soaps were introduced in the '90's and can now be found in many everyday products. But are these germ killers detrimental to our health?
 

Why do you care?

• Antibacterial soaps and cleaners kill both beneficial and harmful bacteria. By killing the beneficial ones, they actually leave us more vulnerable to the harmful ones we encounter. Antibacterial products have shown to contribute to the rise of many different drug-resistant bacteria.1
• Over 75% of liquid soaps and 30% of bar soaps are labeled antibacterial.
• Triclosan and trilocarban are the most common antibacterial compounds and linked to a range of health and environmental effects:
  
  • Human - skin irritation, allergic reactions, antibiotic and bacterial resistance and can also form the probable human carcinogen chloroform when exposed to chlorinated water. Isn't most city tap water chlorinated?
  • Environmental - commonly found contaminate in water and found in concentrated levels in fish. Also been shown to feminize fish.2
• Health Canada's Hot List, which serves to keep people aware of substances of concern, lists several conditions of use for triclosan.
• Antibacterial compounds, like triclosan, provide no additional benefit beyond those of plain soap. Numerous studies have found that washing with regular soap and warm water is just as effective at killing germs.3
  

The Know How

• Avoid soaps, body washes and other bathroom products (including towels!) that advertise themselves as antibacterial. "Antibacterial soaps and lotions should be reserved for the sick patients, not the healthy household", says Dr. Stuart Levy.4
• Wash hands with warm soapy water and rub vigorously to loosen bacteria and viruses from oils in the skin. The agents in the soap will "capture" them and wash away.
• Canadian Pediatric Society does not recommend the use of antibacterial additives to household products. In many situations, the use of antiseptics and antibacterials are unnecessary.
• Vinegar and other natural cleansers are effective disinfectants for most household cleaning. See Cleaning Bucket.
• Remember a little dirt is OK; there is evidence that too much cleanliness is unhealthy. Basically the immune system was designed to do battle.
  

Know and Tell

• Tamey's mother, Susan is a wise woman and has been against antibacterial anything since the products first arrived on our selves. Thanks Mom!
• Patti has questioned the use of these products and not bought into the hype for years. But many places we spend time in each day do … school, work, and doctor's offices. The smells of some of those "hand disinfectants" actually make her nauseated.
  

Pure Know How Kids

• Kids are dirt and germ magnets. See how antibacterial soaps may not be helping their health in Kids - Germs.

P.S. Be sure to take a look at this Months Hot Seater.

1 Antibacterial Soaps, Body Washes and Towels. The Green Guide. October/November 2007
2 Environmental Working Group - A Green Home is Good Enough to Eat, August 11, 2007
3 Antimicrobial products in the home: The evolving problem of antibiotic resistance. Canadian Paediatric Society. Paediatrics & Child Health 2006;11(3):169-173
4 Alliance for Prudent Use of Antibiotics