There is a chemical called triclosan (aslo known as microban), that is in many of the products that we put in and on our bodies on a regular basis. (With that in mind, don’t forget that our skin is very absorbent. That means that if we put something on our skin, it’s basically the same as eating it).
Triclosan has been around for over 40 years. You can find this chemical in a number of liquid soaps, hand sanitizers, dishwashing liquids, shaving gels, socks, workout clothes and toys. Some of the products that you will find this chemical in include: Clearasil, Dentyl mouthwash, Colgate, Pepsodent, Softsoap, Dial, Right Guard deodorant, Sensodyne Total Care, Old Spice and Mentadent.
(At BeyondPestidcides.org you can find a list of products that have triclosan in them).
The “purpose” for triclosan being in these products is to kill germs. However, numerous studies have shown that triclosan is not needed to kill germs, and is in fact, ineffective at killing numerous germs, including norovirus, a common food-borne illness, strep and common hospital germs.
Here’s what I don’t get…
1) There are plenty of studies that show that triclosan is not effective at killing many germs.
2) In 2010 the U.S. food and Drug Administration (FDA) acknowledged that this chemical provides no additional benefit over the use of simple hand soap and water for reducing the transmission of, or preventing infection for consumers.
3) The FDA recommends alcohol-bases sanitizers instead of triclosan.
4) The FDA acknowledges that recent research raises valid concerns about the possible health effects of triclosan.
…so why is triclosan still present in so many products???
If you are wondering why I am making such a big deal about this issue, let me tell you what I learned:
Studies show that triclosan disrupts the body’s endocrine system and may even help to create bacteria that are resistant to antibiotics and…
…triclosan has been linked to causing antibiotic-resistant “superbugs,” heart damage, and cancer and… …researchers have found that triclosan impairs muscle function in fish and mice and… …triclosan is an endocrine disruptor and has been shown to affect male and female reproductive hormones and possibly fetal development and is also shown to alter thyroid function and… …triclosan can even react with the chlorine in tap water to form chloroform, which can cause liver and kidney disease and weaken your immune system!
Just to give you a little more information on how prevalent this chemical is in our world, studies show that triclosan is present in umbilical cord blood and human milk and is found in the urine of 75% of the U.S. population. Triclosan is very present in our public waterways too. The U.S. Geological Survey found triclosan in 58 percent of the rivers and streams that it tested.
The FDA was supposed to finally make a ruling in 2013 about the usage of triclosan, but I just recently read that they now have until 2016 to figure it out. I don’t understand what’s left to figure out. If a product doesn’t do what it is supposed to do AND is harmful to us and our environment in numerous ways, what is the dilemma? Michael Osterholm, the director of the Center for Infectious Disease and Research and Policy at the University of Minnesota says this: “…the benefits (of using triclosan) aren’t there. So if the risks are something to be measured…this chemical shouldn’t and doesn’t hold up.” Sounds crazy, doesn’t it?
While we may or may not be able to move the FDA along any quicker, there are things as a consumer that we can do to avoid triclosan. We have to read labels on what we purchase. (However, even though triclosan must be listed as an ingredient on over-the-counter drugs and cosmetics, it can be in many other products in the home without being listed as an ingredient). If a product that you buy says that it is antibacterial, antimicrobial, fights odors, or kills germs, you might want to investigate exactly how it does that, whether by natural means or, more likely, an antibacterial chemical. Even products that are not labeled as antibacterial, like shaving gel, can contain triclosan.
What are some healthy alternatives for killing germs?
Besides using plain soap and water, as mentioned above, herbs/essential oils have all kinds of antimicrobial properties. (The oils that are made from the herbs are mainly the way these products are used).
Pine needle and eucalyptus are two refreshing and cleansing examples of two natural antiseptics. (An effective way to use either of these two is in the oil form in an air diffuser). Lavender can be used for colds, coughs, sinus, flu and topically for wounds and burns. Bergamont is a good antiseptic for the urinary tract and can also be used as an inhalation for respiratory tract infections. Tea tree oil is a great option for cleansing dirty wounds and for skin lesions of any kind. It is also used for athlete’s foot and nail fungus, vaginitis, thrush and cradle cap. In a gargle, it helps clear throat infections and mouth ulcers and eliminates bad breath. Sandalwood, lemon, geranium, peppermint, patchouli, rose bulgarium, oregano, echinacea, and aloe vera are more examples of herbs/oils that can help kill all kinds of bacteria and germs. With essential oils, you can make everything from foot soaks to get rid of fungus to shower cleaners to get rid of mildew.
(The above-mentioned oils have many other uses also. I have just noted some of their antiseptic, germ-killing uses. Just remember to do a little research on the oils that you buy and get some quality oils, versus buying the least expensive. The may seem a bit pricey, but they go a long way).
There are plenty of other healthy, natural alternatives for killing germs besides soap and essential oils.
Lets’s take your kitchen sponge as an example. First of all, many kitchen sponges come with chemical additives, so look for pure cellulose sponges that have no chemical additives. To naturally kill the germs that breed in your sponge, you can wet it and microwave it for two minutes or put it in the top rack of your dishwasher with every load, which is what I what I do. (Taking good care of our bodies by giving ourselves the proper nourishment, rest and exercise is one way to help prevent the growth of germs so that we don’t even have to use antiseptic products in the first place, but that’s another story).
Some companies have eliminated triclosan from some of their products, but we still have a long way to go.
Minnesota might be the first state to ban the use of triclosan. Governor Mark Dayton has already told state agencies to stop using products that contain the chemical.
No matter how many disinfectants we use, we will never kill all of the nasty bacteria in our environment. However, we do have the choice of whether or not we add a poison – in this case triclosan – to the mix.
I, for one, spent some time this weekend reading labels on products that I had in my home and will much more diligent in reading labels when I shop in the future – certainly as far as triclosan is concerned!
Thanks for reading!
Jayne
earthshealingblog 