Antibacterial Cleaners Do More Harm Than Good

by Lloyd Alter, Toronto on 06.21.07
Science & Technology

John previously noted that the triclosan in antibacterial soaps and cleaners was a gender bender that was disrupting the natural grown of frogs and was found in 55% of the rivers and streams in America, and provided a long and surprising list of products that included triclosan. (Its in toothpaste!)

Now we learn from Scientific American that it does more harm than good. It appears that after, say, spraying a counter with an antibiotic cleaner, some chemicals linger and continue to kill bacteria but don't get all of them. The ones that survive develop a tolerance: "What doesn't kill you makes you stronger" Soon we have populations of antibiotic resistant bacteria.

"What is this stuff doing in households when we have soaps?" asks molecular biologist John Gustafson of New Mexico State University in Las Cruces. These substances really belong in hospitals and clinics, not in the homes of healthy people." ::Scientific American

We reprint John's partial list of products to avoid below the fold.

Noxzema Triple Clean Antibacterial Lathering Cleanser
Colgate Total Toothpaste, Fresh Stripe
Revlon ColorStay LipSHINE Lipcolor Plus Gloss, Solar
Gentle Antibacterial Body Soap with Moisture Beads
Clearasil Daily Face Wash
Shield Deodorant Soap Bar, Surf Scent
Softsoap Gentle Antibacterial Body Wash with Vitamins
Aveeno Therapeutic Shave Gel
Softsoap Fruit Antibacterial Liquid Hand Soap
Right Guard Sport, Deodorant Aerosol, Fresh
Right Guard Sport, Clear Stick Deodorant
Suave Deodorant Soap, Antibacterial
Old Spice High Endurance Stick Deodorant,
pHisoderm Antibacterial Skin Cleanser
Softsoap Liquid Antibacterial Body Soap
Clean and Smooth Antibacterial Liquid Hand Soap
Old Spice Red Zone Antiperspirant & Deodorant
Colgate Total Toothpaste
Revlon ColorStay LipSHINE Lipcolor Plus Gloss
New Vaseline Brand Intensive Care Antibacterial Hand Lotion
Lever 2000 Soap Bar Antibacterial
Lever 2000 Deodorant Soap Bar
Imina Lathering Facial Cleanser
Softsoap 2 in 1 Antibacterial Hand Soap Plus Moisturizing Lotion
Softsoap Antibacterial Liquid Hand Soap with Light Moisturizers
Right Guard Sport, Deodorant Aerosol
Suave Liquid Hand Soap, Antibacterial
Bath & Body Instant AntiBacterial Hand Gel-Freesia
Dial Liquid Antibacterial Soap, Original Formula
Clean and Smooth Kitchen Antibacterial Liquid Hand Soap
http://www.treehugger.com/files/2007/06/antibacterial_c.php