I don’t know about you but it’s hard to keep up with everything that is toxic.
Thankfully this information is becoming mainstream.
For instance, you’ve probably heard that some ingredients in soap and hand sanitizers may not be good for us.
But which ingredients?
Here’s one: Triclosan, a chemical found in most personal care products because of its antibacterial properties, may very well be damaging our health.
Triclosan is common in soaps, cosmetics, medicines, facial cleansers, deodorants, exfoliates, acne medicine, and cosmetics, among other personal care products.
One study conducted in 2008, tested a representative sample of adults and children in the US and found the chemical to be presented in 75% of them.
4 Major Reasons To Avoid Using Triclosan
So let’s investigate why we should avoid using it.
1. It Causes Harm To Health
Our exposure to this toxic chemical, which has also been linked with disrupting heart and other muscle contractions, is a cause for concern.
Its use in toothpaste helps prevent gingivitis, but its presence in other products provides no additional benefits; rather causing only harm according to the FDA.
A study conducted on mice found that it is a possible cause of cancer and liver fibrosis.
Mice were exposed to triclosan for six months, which made them more susceptible to tumors especially, that of the liver.
The 6-month exposure of mice is equivalent to a human’s exposure in 18 months.
2. It Promotes Antibiotic Resistance
Using antibacterial soaps is not preventing you from illness, but rather, it promotes antibiotic-resistant bacteria.
Having built resistance makes the chemical that fights off the strain of bacteria useless and that is what antibacterial soaps are feared to be doing.
3. It Could Be Disrupting Hormones
Different studies in rats and frogs show that triclosan interferes with the level of thyroid hormones.
If it is true for humans as well as it can create a host of health problems such as early puberty, infertility, cancer, and obesity.
If it is true for humans as well as it can create a host of health problems such as early puberty, infertility, cancer, and obesity.
4. It Disrupts Photosynthesis
The presence of triclosan in antibacterial soaps and other personal care products is not only harmful to us due to direct contact and absorption in the body, but it also causes harm to the environment.
The amount of triclosan that gets flushed down the drain gets mixed in streams and water disrupting the ability of algae to perform photosynthesis.
It also converts into dioxin, which is a cancer-causing agent.
Bottom Line
Due to the possible harm that triclosan causes, there has been quite an uproar against its usage in common household products.
Many consumers are today well aware of its harmful effects, and if you weren’t, you are now.
Many personal care companies like Johnson & Johnson have stopped using triclosan in their products, but you should understand that it might be present in other products.
Soaps containing triclosan do not provide any more benefit than simple soap and water.
What You Can Do
Always purchase products after carefully scanning through the ingredients making sure you are not purchasing a product with triclosan.
Limiting its use will help you lower your risk as well as the harm it causes to the environment.
Check out www.ewg.com to dig deeper into safer less toxic products for your family.
Let me hear from you.
Have you already been limiting your use of products with triclosan or is this new to you?
Sources:
http://www.inquisitr.com/1314977/another-reason-to-avoid-triclosan-and-anti-bacterial-soaps-its-messing-up-sewage-treatment-systems/
http://articles.mercola.com/sites/articles/archive/2012/08/29/triclosan-in-personal-care-products.aspx
