Triclosan and Triclocarban
At least the US Government does some good for the world – they seem to investigate and then ban some substances before the rest of the world does – and in doing so alerting us to the dangers. This time they are after some chemicals that appear in many cosmetic products. I’ve always avoided products labelled “antibacterial” unless it is for, like, a wound. They seem superfluous (given that you are cleaning anyway), and will almost certainly weaken your body’s immune system – children brought up in less-than-spotless homes get less sick – and who knows what the chemical itself will do to you…
Together, triclosan and triclocarban are widely used in antibacterial soaps, body washes, deodorants, lip glosses, dog shampoos, shave gels, and even toothpastes. They are found in brands as familiar as Colgate, Dial, Lever 2000, and Vaseline. Although they have been used for several decades for their antibacterial and antifungal properties, studies and even the FDA recognize that they are no more effective at preventing disease than regular soap and water. In other words, they serve two real purposes: allowing companies to market personal care products as “antibacterial,” and contaminating the waste stream (and, ultimately, the environment). More…