Antibacterial Toothpaste

Antibacterial soaps do not help your family stay healthy. They may even make you sick!

Antibacterial soaps have been widely seen as a way to "kill the germs and prevent illness. But not all harmful bacteria. And not all the germs "are bacteria.

Some bacteria are beneficial and your body needs. Antibacterial soap can not distinguish between harmful and helpful bacteria. It kills all bacteria. When healthy bacteria your body needs have been "washed", it weakens your immune system and makes it easier for you to be patient when you are exposed to harmful bacteria.

The most common antibacterial agent used in these soaps is triclosan, which is classified as a drug by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and a pesticide by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). The EPA considers triclosan to a high risk to human health and the environment.

Recent studies show that triclosan acts as an antibiotic in how it kills bacteria and may contribute to the development of bacteria resistant to antibiotics.

Chemically, triclosan is almost the same as some of the most toxic chemicals on earth: dioxins, PCBs and Agent Orange. Its manufacturing process may produce dioxin, a powerful hormone-disrupting chemical with toxic effects in the parts per trillion (one drop in 300 Olympic-sized swimming pools!).

Triclosan is a chlorophenol, a class of chemicals suspected of causing cancer in humans. Externally, it can cause irritation of the skin, but since "... phenols can temporarily deactivate sensory nerve endings in contact with ... [] triclosan often causes little or no pain. Internally, it can lead to sweating cold, circulatory collapse, convulsions, coma and even death ".

Triclosan is stored in fat. "It can accumulate to toxic levels, damaging the liver, kidneys and lungs and can cause paralysis, sterility, suppression of immune function, brain hemorrhage, decreased fertility and sexual function, heart problems and coma. " It has not been thoroughly tested and analyzed for all health and environmental risks.

Triclocarban is another antibacterial agent similar to Triclosan. As triclosan, it is also a pesticide. It is widely used in antibacterial soaps and other personal care products. Little research has been conducted on the toxicity of triclocarban. However, it has been found to impair the ability of animals "to reproduce and some of its breakdown products causes cancer.

Triclocarban does not completely fall into the wastewater, once you wash in the sink. It has been found in groundwater, streams and drinking water. There are many unanswered questions as to whether its presence in fertilizers and soil lead to enter the food supply and whether it will cause damage.

These two chemicals alone are reason enough to avoid antibacterial soaps. However, products containing antibacterial agents usually also contain other harmful ingredients. Some of the other ingredients found in these products you should avoid:

DMDM hydantoin-
BHT-
Potassium lauryl
Lauramide-diethanolamine (DEA)
Ammonium lauryl sulfate
laureth sulfate sodium
EDTA Tetrasodium
-Parfum
-D & C Colours
Colors FD & C

Antibacterial agents are not only in liquid soaps. It is more common for liquid soap to contain antibacterial chemicals, about 75% of them. However, approximately 30% of bar soaps also contain chemicals like tricolsan or triclocarban. In addition, these chemicals can also be found in other products such as deodorants, cosmetics, lotions, creams, toothpaste, soap, dishwashing detergents and soaps.

It is particularly important to avoid using antibacterial soaps on children. These soaps do not protect them and help them stay healthy. .