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Antibacterial Soap No Better than Regular Soap

By Diane Hanson

You've seen countless advertisements telling you that antibacterial soaps are effective in preventing illnesses. Do you seriously think soaps that kill bacteria are good and better than regular soap for your family? Surprisingly, antibacterial products may do you more harm than good. Read on to find out the dangers of antibacterial soap, for both human health and the environment.

Is Antibacterial Soap Effective?

Triclosan, the active antibacterial agent in antibacterial products, is known for its bacteria-fighting properties. But the problem with triclosan is that it kills both the good and bad bacteria.

Without the normal healthy bacteria, the bad bacteria can multiply and become drug-resistant "superbugs". This colony of antibiotic (such as amoxicillin and isoniazid) resistant bacteria can cause serious health complications.

Researchers found that too much triclosan is harmful – leading to abnormalities with the endocrine system, weakening of the immune system, birth defects, uncontrolled cell growth and unhealthy weight loss.

When triclosan reacts with the chlorine in tap water, chloroform is formed. Chloroform is a central nervous system depressant and cancer causing compound. Chronic inhalation of chloroform may cause psychiatric and neurological symptoms, including depression, hallucinations and moodiness. And, when tricolsan reacts with light, it can actually form poisonous dioxins.

Triclosan has a negative impact on the environment as well. After washing your hands, they eventually end up in the waste water system. Because they do not break down or get filtered out during waste water treatment, up to 75% of the original amount gets into the river, causing harm to the ecosystem.

Triclosan is not only used in soaps, it is also found in many other everyday consumer products such as toothpaste, deodorants, body washes, laundry detergents, fabric softeners and facial tissue.

The best way to fight germs is to scrub your hands (back, in between fingers and under the fingernails) for at least 15 minutes with any kind of soap and rinsing thoroughly with water. Regular soap does not contain triclosan; they clean as effectively as an antibacterial soap, and for less money.

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