FIVE reasons why you should not use antibacterial products

August 21, 2014

It is an age of ultimate awareness and caution. The ease of access and speed of information have made lives both simpler and fast. People have stitched their lifestyles to daily mundane routines which only allow them only well-allocated spaces and time of leisure. There is so much buzz about everything that everyone wants to be safest and healthiest, simply because there is no time to fall sick. These new lifestyle are usually carried on by basic products which we think have made our lives more easy and safe. We adapt new stuff, based on fads, popularity or trends.

FDA Study

One such thing which has made deep inroads in our daily lives is the simple anti-bacterial product range-handwashes, cosmetics, bar-soaps, toothpastes etc. All these who claim to make our lives better are actually knitting a vicious and toxic web inside us according to a new FDA report. The report has enumerated the presence of a drug named ‘triclosan’ in most of the anti-bacterial products and states that growing proportion of this inside the body can significantly effect hormonal balances, development concerns during anti-natal and post-natal period and in worse cases can also aid bacteria to transform into some hard-to-counter strains.

No special safety

It has been found out that the so-called anti-bacterial products do not offer any special advantage against simple water and soap. Triclosan has no particular attributes to ensure safety against bacterial infections and its manifestations. They may kill more number of bacteria on hands, but no study has come to present its case of triclosan helping against any viral infections which can be more severe and common like common cold, gastroenteritis.

May give way to more toxic bacteria

Many studies have hinted at the possibility that triclosan may actually assist bacterial transformation to more deadly forms which may be difficult to contain. These may develop resistance to antibiotics. Children who are more exposed to triclosan are more prone to common allergies like common hay fever as the good bacteria necessary for providing immunity also get washed away.

Triclosan is fat-soluble

This means that it will stay in human tissue rather than getting washed-out of our systems. This effect when trickles down the food chain may lead to severe biomagnifications and disrupt food chains too. It will largely effect the ecosystem with time by disturbing its fragile balances.

Alarming health concerns

Studies have shown triclosan to interfere with thyroid hormone balance in animals such as rats, frogs etc. Although similar effects in humans have yet to b traced amidst speculations. However, if such guesses find ground then it can lead to serious human health concerns as infertility, early puberty, obesity, cancer etc.

Image: Wikimedia Commons

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