Antibacterial Soaps Under Scrutiny



B. McPherson
Plain soap and water cleans your hands. Ditch the triclosan.
The widespread use of antibacterial soaps is a recent phenomenon in N. America and much of the industrialized world. We have been subjected to “Wash Your Hands” campaigns for years now. The cosmetic companies have aided our search to be clean, producing many versions of antibacterial soaps. The premise being that we will save ourselves and others from infections by using these products.

The US Food and Drug Administration(FDA) has recently focussed on these products, looking for evidence that these products convey an anti-bacterial advantage. They are cooperating with the US Environmental Protection Agency(EPA) in investigating these personal antibacterial products. They have not found a long term benefit to using these products. Instead they have uncovered some disconcerting unintended consequences of their use.

Lead microbiologist Colleen Rogers, Ph.D. had the following to say:


"New data suggest that the risks associated with long-term, daily use of antibacterial soaps may outweigh the benefits," Rogers says. There are indications that certain ingredients in these soaps may contribute to bacterial resistance to antibiotics, and may have unanticipated hormonal effects that are of concern to FDA.” USF
 The two commonly used antibacterial products used are triclosan and triclocarban.

Triclosan classified as a pesticide by EPA(Ref: MayoClinic)
·         Used in soaps, cosmetics, toothpaste, clothing, cookware, furniture, toys
·         Side effects may include: alters hormone regulation in animals, contribute to antibiotic resistance in bacteria, may be harmful to immune system

Hand washing remains a gold standard for reducing infections. It may be that the use of soap and clean water is all that is needed. Plus a clean towel to dry your hands. Forget the pesticide.

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Prince Rupert Says No to Enbridge Pipeline

Image
B. McPherson Prince Rupert city council joined a growing list of BC coastal communities that are saying “No” to the Enbridge proposal to build a twinned pipeline from Edmonton to the coast. The decision of the Prince Rupert city politicians was unanimous. Already the village of Kitimaat, Terrace and the Skeena Queen Charlottes Regional District have voiced their opposition to the project. There are ongoing hearings by a federal court appointed Joint Review Panel which are gathering input from interested parties about the proposed Enbridge Northern Gateway Pipeline which would bring crude petroleum from the oil sands of Alberta to the coast of British Columbia. The proposal would see a twinned pipeline run over the Rocky Mountains and through wilderness to the treacherous west coast. The proposed terminus at Kitimat would require tankers to wend their way through the maze of islands and reefs to load up at the head of Douglas Channel. While the hearings and the finding
Read more

Abandoned Oil Pipelines What Lurks Below?

Image
These photos were taken July 2012 in the historic Turner Valley, Alberta B. McPherson Controversy over new oil pipelines is reaching boiling point in many circles. Heated debate is taking place over the proposed Enbridge Northern Gateway and Keystone Pipeline proposals. Safety, disruption to landowners  and more are being weighed against the money to be made transporting and selling petroleum products. It got me thinking about the old pipelines. What happens to a pipeline when it is too old to use or not needed? It’s a bit of an Alice in Wonderland scene. The US laws and regulations are different from ours in Canada. The Pipeline and Gas Journal is a source of information about abandoned pipelines in Texas. Apparently a pipeline in Texas may be abandoned by a company, but it still retains ownership and may choose to reactivate the line at a later date. In the meantime, the right of way or easement is no longer maintained, but the through which the pipe extends is not free
Read more

Efficient Rail Transport May Make Pipelines Obsolete

Image
B. McPherson What happens to all the abandoned pipelines? Oil pipelines have huge direct costs to build, but they also have many hidden costs. In spite of dire warnings by environmentalist the world is demanding ever greater supplies of the black gold. For those countries that have it and market it successfully, money comes rolling in. But at what cost? An oil pipeline is a hugely complex thing. Enbridge Corp. has been battling citizens in British Columbia over its proposed Northern Gateway Pipeline and the Keystone Pipeline in the US has been stalled for months. When Big Oil needs to transport oil or bitumen to refineries, it usually gets a smooth ride to approval. Labelling energy security as a national priority, property rights are infringed upon. People in Canada cannot legally stop the installation of a pipeline across their property. The high pressure conduit is often buried only a few feet below the surface leaving crops, buildings and livestock vulnerable to a
Read more