Bacteria Mania

by: AndreaDow
Total views: 499
Word Count: 413

Sunday, August 26th

Ever wonder if those anti-bacterial soaps and hand sanitizer gels are really necessary? With my job, I definitely find myself using the instant hand sanitizer in between clients if I do not have time to wash my hands. My husband makes fun of me because I usually use the sanitizer before I eat at food at a restaurant and after I leave the grocery store (have you heard that those cart handles are filled with nasty germs?). I would not call myself a germ-phobe, but I am careful about keeping my hands clean. I found this next piece of research interesting and thought it may change your mind about what soaps you should stock at home/work.

A recent article in O Magazine written by Lauren Dzubow highlights some important facts about the effectiveness of certain soaps inside and outside of the home. Dzubow states "research has shown that, in the home, antibacterial soap is no more effective than the regular stuff in preventing infection." Going one step further, Dzubow reports that the antibacterial soap we use at home may actually be causing more harm than good. Triclosan, the active ingredient in antibacterial soaps (not found in hand sanitizers), may be linked to cancer. Oddly enough, this compound reacts with chlorine in our tap water to form chloroform which has been labeled as a potential carcinogen. By using antibacterial soap, Dzubow says you could be increasing your "exposure to chloroform 15 to 40 percent above the EPA's safe limit for tap water." Over time, extended exposure to this chemical while dish washing or showering could be problematic. The brief time it takes to wash your hands is probably not going to be very harmful, but it is important for the public to be aware of the potential risks.

Additionally, Dzubow reports that triclosan has been linked to allergies, antibiotic resistance and it is definitely NOT helping our environment as it is one of the major contaminants in the United States waterways. Dzubow advises to skip the antibacterial soap and leave it for the hospitals where the "bacteria-killing properties of triclosan can prevent the spread of serious infections." In conclusion, it seems that regular soap at home will do the job just fine to get the bugs from your hands/body down the drain. Remember to keep your hands clean, it is the number one way to prevent the spread of germs. I will stick with my hand santizer, too!

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