Antibacterial madness (triclosan) could be killing us

[Islander]

e-letter from "WC Douglass, M.D." <realhealth@healthiernews.com>
Wednesday, April 28, 2010

We're so clean we're filthy. In fact, we're washing our way towards illness and death.

Triclosan, an antibacterial agent found in soaps, detergents and even clothing, has been sucking the human endocrine system dry. And as it goes to work on your body, it's also helping to kill off common bacteria... while allowing powerful new ones to rise.

What's truly amazing... what's really shocking... what should tell you everything you need to know about this chemical... is that it's actually a pesticide, not a soap.

You've probably been washing with it for years, then eating with your "clean" hands. The feds now say they're concerned about this chemical... but don't wait for them to save your skin. The FDA has been working on rules for the use of triclosan for 38 years -- so if they haven't figured it out by now, you're on your own.

Here's what you need to know -- what even the feds already admit to: This stuff is so dangerous it kills fish when it gets into the water. And it's in the water -- because it's literally everywhere. Triclosan can be found in everything from clothing to cutting boards. Pretty much anything with the word "antibacterial" screaming from the label has triclosan in it. It's so common it's in the urine of 75 percent of the population.

And yet people keep buying up that antibacterial soap in the mistaken belief that it must be better. After all, it costs more... so it must be good, right?

Wrong!

Studies have repeatedly proven that antibacterial soaps are no better than ordinary soaps.

That shouldn't surprise anyone past a certain age. We grew up without this stuff, and didn't face anything like the bacterial threat running rampant today. So if you're looking to stay clean, just do what we did -- warm water and plain old soap.

[Islander]

From: "Dr. Robert J. Rowen" <DrRobertJRowen@Letters.SecondOpinionNewsletter.com>


I've told my readers for nearly 10 years to avoid antibacterial soaps. Now the FDA finally agrees.

The FDA made international news recently when it announced its concerns about the chemical triclosan. You can find this chlorinated organic chemical in common sanitizers, soaps, and even toothpaste.

A Congressman from Mass., Edward Markey, has pushed for tighter control over triclosan and other chemicals dumped into consumer products. He says, "It's in our drinking water, it's in our rivers, and, as a result, it's in our bodies and children's toys. It's something that creates a danger."

This news isn't surprising. Most of the countries in the European Union have banned or restricted the chemical. Yet the U.S. Soap and Detergent Association, which represents the $30 billion U.S. cleaning products industry, minimized the concerns.
Brian Sansoni of the SDA said: "These products and ingredients have been reviewed, regulated and researched for decades," he said. "We believe the science strongly supports the safety and efficacy of these products. It's more important than ever that consumers continue to have access to these products. It's a time of increased threats from disease and germs."

Wake up, Brian!!! We are facing a time of increased threats exactly because of situations like this. Triclosan is a very reactive chlorinated phenol compound. It can degrade to extremely toxic dioxins. It may be an endocrine disruptor on its own, or be transformed into one simply by light hitting the molecule in the water it contaminates.

Research suggests that it can combine with chlorine in your water supply to generate chloroform, a known carcinogen. It is very stable in your body, and will stay there for a long time. As an endocrine disruptor, it could wreak havoc on your breasts, prostate, uterus, and more. "Endocrine disruptor" is a term for manmade chemicals that have extremely toxic hormone-like effects on your body. How do we know that the rise of infections in people is not due in part to the presence of chemicals like this in our bodies?

What's worse, researchers find triclosan in just about every American they test. So it's extremely common. I've warned against chemical laden soaps and especially antibacterial soaps ever since they arrived. The best defense against infection is a powerful immune system. Chemicals destroy the latter. If you need topical antibacterial support, consider the wonders of essential oils, such as oregano and thyme. Please don't use chlorinated hydrocarbons like triclosan. Chlorinated hydrocarbons are also used as pesticides, and they last a very long time in the environment.

My favorite soap is Dr. Bronner's peppermint soap. It's quite pure and does a great job. You'll find it in most health food stores. Get rid of toothpaste containing antibacterials. Why would any regulator allow such a compound to enter your mouth?

Don't buy clothing laced with antibacterial or anti-odor chemicals. These organic chemicals can migrate right through your skin. And, because of their lipid-soluble nature, they wind up in the fat of your mammary glands, or move right through your blood-brain barrier into your brain and nervous system. Avoiding these products is one of the best health decisions you can make.

Yours for better health and medical freedom,

http://securepubs.com/graphics/rowen_sig.gif

Robert J. Rowen, MD
Ref: Layton, Lyndsey. Washington Post, April 8, 2010.

[Reesacat]

I had no idea that Triclosan was a pesticide.
Gag!

[Maurya]

Now I need to go check some labels!

[Aaltrude]

This is one of the reasons we only use our homemade soap.

[Islander]

Me too. Have NEVER used anything anti-bacterial, never will.

[DizzyIzzy]

I've got in trouble a few times for refusing to use anything antibacterial; I'd rather go without, or just use plain hot water, thankyouverymuch.

And triclosan I've always avoided. I had no idea why, it just sounded evil. Tr-tr-tr-triclosan.... it's comin' for ya, dun dun dun. Something in the back of my mind was going 'helllllllllllllll no, uh-uh...'. Guess this is why. :cool:

[EmmaPeel]

Oh yah, I knew about all this antibacterial soap nonsense years ago...I remember researching it when a certain liquid soap that was given out to new mom's in their Baby Home gift basket back in the 70's was discovered to contain this. Remember those? You left the hospital with things like soaps, diapers, pads, gyne wipes and breast pads, a few can's of formula and a wad of coupons?

Wasn't until the '90's when they finally admitted that hexachlorophene caused neurological damage in babies....my mother used it on my brother for the first 5 years of his life. That explains A LOT!

Will try to find the article to post....

I never use antibacterial, and never use hand sanitizer. Just wash my hands with plain soap and warm water...

[DizzyIzzy]

Exactly. Ew, just looked at a tube of Colgate toothpaste... one of the only ingredients they'll label on it. Gross. Give me my yummy organic minty stuff anyday.

When I was in the UK I worked for the emergency services, and unfortunately the lady in charge of health and safety was an absolute fruit-loop and bought into every scare possible. Bird flu suddenly came up and there were hand sanitiser dispensers on the door to every building, and you weren't allowed in unless you'd used it. I'd always refuse and say it was a load of crap and I wasn't going to be promoting more superbugs and poisoning myself with toxic chemicals every time I wanted to go into another office, my hands were washed with soap and water just five minutes earlier, and I was perfectly healthy, but man she flipped when she heard. What a fuss. Some people... banghead