Is there a pesticide lurking in your soap?

For today's Community of Change Post I would like to welcome Kathy Dolan who has written a very informative and important post about the dangers of Triclosan:

Ever since I learned about the dangers of triclosan, I’ve started looking, really looking, before I buy. Triclosan is a pesticide often used in personal care products like toothpaste, face-wash, hand and dish soap and laundry detergent. Manufacturers add triclosan to these products in order to make the claim that their product is antibacterial and protects against disease.

But the reality is that triclosan is no more effective than plain soap and water in preventing illness. In 2000, the American Medical Association (AMA) reports that, “there is little evidence to support the use of antimicrobials in consumer products.” Similarly, in 2005, an FDA panel of experts voted 11 to 1 that antibacterial soaps were no more effective than regular soap and water in fighting infections. So really, the manufacturers of these products are just fear mongering and trying to convince consumers that bacteria are enemy number one.

As a pesticide, triclosan can kill both good and bad bacteria. The good bacteria that live on our skin keep us healthy. So not only does triclosan remove good bacteria, it may allow for the strongest bad bacteria to survive. Research suggests that the overuse of antimicrobial products could lead to antibiotic resistance.

Triclosan has been linked to even more human health effects like skin irritation and endocrine disruption. Triclosan also accumulates in our bodies over time. Researchers have found triclosan in human urine, breast milk, blood and umbilical cord blood samples.


Now that you know that these products don’t prevent illness and may cause more harm than good, what can you do?

• First, start looking at ingredient labels before you buy. Really look.
• Then, flex you purchasing power and buy products that DON’T contain triclosan.
• Next, take the anti-triclosan pledge!
• And lastly, spread the word!

- Kathy Dolan

Kathy Dolan is the Triclosan Campaign Coordinator at Food & Water Watch. She works to advance our national and grassroots strategies aimed at limiting the non-medical use of Triclosan. Prior to joining Food & Water Watch, Kathy served as a research assistant at the Center for a Livable Future where she researched local food security & sustainability issues as well as investigated US food trade policy and subsequent pesticide risk.

**Thanks Kathy! If you would like to write for our One Small Change blog, please email us at suzy@hipmountainmama.com

Is there a pesticide lurking in your soap?