We all have used antibacterial soaps at one time or the other, some of us probably used it this morning and some will still use it this evening.
Antibacterial soap is supposed to protect you from bacteria and germs but did you know that these soaps are made with chemicals that are actually carcinogenic and can cause more harm than good?!
In recent studies carried out it has been seen that triclosan which is a chemical that is now known to aid cancer cells is prominent in many cosmetic and beauty products and that includes antibacterial soap.
Research in South Korea at the National University and the Korea Research Institute of Bioscience and Biotechnology by lead researcher Kyung-Chul Choi along with his colleagues from Chungbuk have studied critically the effects of triclosan on the hormonal system.
Triclosan is known to be a hormone disruptor and in other research it is known to imitate estrogen and as a result adversely affects the production and the activities of other known hormones like testosterone.
Triclosan is known to be a causative factor for breast cancer as it adversely affects the endocrine system and as a result causes abnormal cellular formation.
Animal tests were carried out by the researchers and it was discovered that the EDCs were very high in both daily and long term exposure.
Octylphenol Is Equally Carcinogenic
It was also noticed that octylphenol a known antibacterial compound causes abnormal cellar growth as well.
With octylphenol and triclosan in a product they both combine to increase the growth of abnormal cells.
There has been numerous studies which has directly associated triclosan and triclocarban as causative agents for a host of ailments and health issues such as endocrine disruption, skin irritation, bacterial and compounded antibiotic resistance and so on.
There have been groups that have tried to inform people on the dangers of triclosan, such groups include Beyond Pesticides and the Environmental Working Group (EWG).
These groups have been known to bring to light the fact that triclosan is an endocrine-disturbing synthetic (EDC) and they have petitioned the FDA to prohibit the use of this chemical in soap production and indeed the manufacture of other cosmetic products.
Which Products Have Triclosan?
The pressure put on regulatory bodies and on manufacturers have led to many of them producing their cosmetic products exclusive of triclosan.
However, not all manufacturers are towing this line and a number of products still use triclosan, here is a list of some products using triclosan or its cousin triclocarban.
Bathing Soap: Clearasil®, Dial® Liquid handsoap and bodywash; Foaming Sanitizers, Tea Tree Therapy™ Liquid Soap; Daily Face Wash; Dermalogica® ; DermaKleen™ Antibacterial Lotion Soap; CVS Antibacterial Soap, Ajax Antibacterial Dishsoap, Skin Purifying Wipes, Ultra Concentrated Dawn Antibacterial Dishsoap, Kimcare Antibacterial Clear Soap, Bath and Body Works Antibacterial Hand Soaps and Gels.
Oral Care Products: Antibacterial Toothbrush, Colgate Total®; Breeze™ Daily Mouthwash; Reach®
Cosmetics Products: Garden Botanika® Powder Foundation; Mavala Lip Base; Movate® Skin Litening Cream HQ; Paul Mitchell Detangler Comb, Revlon ColorStay LipSHINE Lipcolor Plus Gloss, Babor Volume Mascara, Phytomer Perfect Visage Gentle Cleansing Milk, Phytomer Hydracontinue Instant Moisture Cream, Bath and Body Works Antibacterial Moisturizing Lotions.
Deodorant Products: Deodorant with Citrisomes,Tea Trea Oil Deodorant and Aloe Deodorant Arm and Hammer® Essentials Natural Deodorant; Queen Helene® ; DeCleor Deodorant Stick; Epoch®.
First Aid Products: Healwell Plantar Fasciitis Night Splint, Universal Cervical Collar with Microban, SyDERMA® Skin Protectant plus First Aid Antiseptic; Solarcaine® First Aid Medicated Spray; Nexcare™ First Aid, Skin Crack Care.
Kitchenware Products: Microban Cutting Boards; 20 Microban, Franklin Machine Products FMP Ice Cream Scoop SZ ; Farberware®, Hobart Semi-Automatic Slicer; Chix® Food Service Wipes with Microban; Compact Web Foot® Wet Mop Heads.
More Personal Care Products: Pocket Slick, Scunci Microban Comb, Murad Acne Complex® Kit, ®; Diabet-x™ Cream; and Sportslick.
Clothing: tops and bottoms, Biofresh® socks and undergarments.
Products For School And Office: scissors, C-line®, Ticonderoga® Pencils with Microban Protection, Avery® Touchgaurd View Binders, products, Clauss® cutting instruments, Costco® products, Sharp® printing calculators. Westcott®
Other products: Cool Mist Humidifier, Bionare® ; Deciguard AB® Antimicrobial Ear Plugs; Bauer® Re-Akt hockey helmet and 7500 hockey helment; Miller Paint Acro Pure Interior Paint; Yoga Mat, Holmes Foot Buddy™ HMH120U Antimicrobial Foot Buddy Foot Warmer, Blue Mountain Wall Coverings, California Paints®.
