Scientists have identified bacteria and specific bacterial enzymes that trigger harmful effects of triclosan, an antimicrobial agent found in thousands of consumer products; moreover, the study suggests these enzymes can be blocked from driving intestinal damage. Triclosan is an antimicrobial ingredient present in more than 2,000 consumer and industrial products. It is a ubiquitous environmental contaminant […]
Chemical added to consumer products impairs response to antibiotic treatment
Grocery store aisles are stocked with products that promise to kill bacteria. People snap up those items to protect themselves from the germs that make them sick. However, new research from Washington University in St. Louis finds that a chemical that is supposed to kill bacteria is actually making them stronger and more capable of […]
Prenatal exposure to chemicals in personal care products may speed puberty in girls
Girls exposed to chemicals commonly found in toothpaste, makeup, soap and other personal care products before birth may hit puberty earlier, according to a new longitudinal study led by researchers at the University of California, Berkeley. The results, which were published Dec. 4 in the journal Human Reproduction, came from data collected as part of the […]
Toothpaste And Hand Wash Are Causing Antibiotic Resistance
A common ingredient in toothpaste and hand wash could be contributing to antibiotic resistance, according to University of Queensland research. A study led by Dr Jianhua Guo from UQ’s Advanced Water Management Centre focused on triclosan, a compound used in more than 2000 personal care products. Dr Guo said while it was well-known the overuse […]
Common Antiseptic Ingredients De-Energize Cells And Impair Hormone Response
A new in-vitro study by University of California, Davis, researchers indicates that quaternary ammonium compounds, or “quats,” used as antimicrobial agents in common household products inhibit mitochondria, the powerhouses of the cell, as well as estrogenic functions in cells. Their findings will appear online Aug. 22 in Environmental Health Perspectives, a publication of the National Institute […]
Is Your Toothpaste Full Of Carcinogens?
You might not think twice about the chemicals in your cosmetics, in the way you would worry about absorbing chemicals from food, but that’s what happens every time you brush your teeth. And with the ever increasing knowledge about the harm that some of these chemicals are doing, it certainly is something to worry about. […]
FDA Issues Final Rule On Safety And Effectiveness Of Antibacterial Soaps
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration today issued a final rule establishing that over-the-counter (OTC) consumer antiseptic wash products containing certain active ingredients can no longer be marketed. Companies will no longer be able to market antibacterial washes with these ingredients because manufacturers did not demonstrate that the ingredients are both safe for long-term daily […]
Antibacterial Soap Ingredient Questionable
The active ingredient in most antibacterial products is triclosan, an antibacterial agent that kills bacteria and inhibits bacterial growth. But not only does triclosan kill bacteria, it also has been shown to kill human cells. Presumably, when people buy antibacterial soap, the idea is to kill bad germs and promote health. But over the years, scientists […]