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"Germaphobes" may cause a frenzy when they find
out some of the soaps they have been using can actually be promoting the
development of bacteria resistant to eradication and of exposing themselves to
hormone-disrupting chemicals. The FDA recently released new rules that will
make makers of antibacterial soaps and body washes demonstrate that their
products are safe, effective, and prevent the spread of illness.
The products that are not shown to be safe and effective
will be required to “reformulate or relabel them as a condition of continued
sale,” according to Melissa Healy. According to Healy the FDA is focusing on
triclosan, which is used in liquid soaps and triclobarban. Triclobarban is used
in bar soaps and both of these compounds in high concentrations, in animals,
have been found to have estrogenic effects and suppress thyroid hormone
concentrations. Research suggests a link
between bacteria killing soaps and rise of resistant bacteria/human allergies.
The article states the FDA emphasized that hand washing is essential for
limiting the spread of illness-causing microbes and urged people to continue
washing there hands.
I think hand washing is very important, along with many
others. We all have been taught since kids that we should wash our hands
regularly to keep from getting germs.
Learning that some of the soaps might be making bacteria resistant and
exposing people to harm is very disturbing. I believe we had a discussion in
class about hand sanitizers being quite similar. I don’t really disagree with
anything the author states because she is kind of “reporting” what the FDA
stated. Although to me it’s odd that at the end of the article it basically
states we should continue washing our hands to limit "the spread of
illness-causing microbes.” The article does state the use of alcohol-based hand
sanitizers but like I said we had a discussion that some hand sanitizers can be
just as harmful. I believe the article should have stated more options on using
soaps that are not harmful to people in the long run. This article also makes
me wonder if we are as clean as we think we are after showering and washing our
hands?
http://www.latimes.com/science/sciencenow/la-sci-germophobes-fda-antibacterial-soap-20131216,0,5466860.story#axzz2sxJwlrPZ
(Hahaha... that picture is so funny) It is a bit scary to think that what is suppose to keep us healthy and safe from microbes might not actually be working. Instead it is just making bacteria stronger and more resistant. Not only that, but companies continue to produce and sell these products to people and people are using these in their daily lives. Something should be done about this issue, because this can cause super bacteria, which then can not be eliminated easily. I do remember the article we read in class about hand sanitizers that where not eliminating the bacteria in your hands. It was causing the same problem. I guess its better then not washing your hands at all, but if you are going to do something do it right. Hopefully they remove these products from the market and replace them with working hand cleansing soaps.
ReplyDeleteIve actually heard about this before. Back in high school (as a class) we did a little bit of research on the triclosan ingredient. A lot of people have no idea about what some soaps can do, because, well, they see soap as safe and clean. There are websites and other ads I have seen that promote the safe, all natural, soaps. Im sure there will be more research conducted that will have most soap companies re formulate their soaps. Very interesting article.
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