Antibacterial Soap Might Not Be Too Friendly to the Environment
Deadly Toxins from Some Antibacterial Soap Found in Mississippi River
According to the Environmental Protection Agency, in lakes, rivers and ocean environments, “triclosan is expected to attach to the surface of suspended solids and sediments and may bioaccumulate, potentially posing a concern for aquatic organisms.”
Triclosan, the active ingredient in many antibacterial soaps is what breaks down into Dioxin. About 96% of Triclosan is disposed of in residential drains.
Dioxins are one of the most deadly toxins known to man. According to an EPA report there is no “safe” level of exposure to dioxin. In the US population the report says that dioxins are “at or near levels associated with adverse health effects.”
One of the reasons Dioxins are so terrible is that it takes years for our bodies to get rid of them. When we are exposed to Dixons our body cannot eliminate them, so it stores them in fat. It has been calculated that some Dioxins will remain in our bodies for up to 132 years, if we could live that long.
We accumulate Dioxins in our body through the environment and the foods we eat.
Dioxins have been proven to cause tumors, cancer and acne and have also been linked to the following:
Birth defects, inability to maintain pregnancy, decreased fertility, reduced sperm counts, endometriosis, diabetes, learning disabilities, immune system suppression, lung problems, skin disorders, lowered testosterone levels, Developmental abnormalities in the enamel of children’s teeth, Central and peripheral nervous system pathology, Thyroid disorders, damage to the immune system, Endometriosis, Diabetes and more.
In other words, not good stuff.
The latest University of Minnesota study examined sediment core samples from Lake Pepin, an enlargement of the Mississippi River. That study had found that Dioxin levels have increased by 200 to 300 percent on the last few years.
So what can we do about it?
Stop using anything that has Triclosan. Trust me, it is hard to find a non-antibacterial soap. You really have to look at product labels. If the ingredient Triclosan is listed, don’t use it.
Many studies have shown that regular soap is just as effective as antibacterial soap in reducing the amount of bacteria on the skin.
The real key is washing for long enough. You need to wash for about 20 seconds. Or as I tell my kids the amount of time to sing the “ABC” song.
To clean and disinfect my home, I use a product called Viraguard. It is a disinfectant and cleaner in one. It contains no Triclosan. In fact the active ingredient is alcohol. The same thing doctors use to disinfect the skin. Regular alcohol evaporates very quickly. Viraguard has a special, safe, ingredient in it to prevent the alcohol from evaporating so quickly. The longer the contact time, the more bad bugs it can kill. So when you spray it on your countertop, it will be hazy for a few minutes. But after a few minutes it will dry completely clear and will not leave any toxic residue behind. That is the secret as to why it works so well. At first I was pretty upset that it caused my countertops to look dull, but then I realized “That’s the way it works” that is how it kills bad germs. After 10 minutes or so the countertops are sparkling clean, sanitized and deodorized. I use it on everything.