New: Groups Tell EPA to Stop Widespread Uses of Anti-Bacterial Consumer Products (read press release and comments to EPA)

Antimicrobial pesticides are broad-spectrum poisons that in recent years have exploded on to the consumer market in a wide variety of antibacterial soaps, deodorants, toothpastes, cosmetics, fabrics, plastics, and other household and personal care products. Their intended purpose is to destroy or suppress the growth of harmful microorganisms, whether bacteria, viruses, or fungi. However, with an increasing number of scientific studies two basic questions arise: Are they safe for human health and the environment? and are they necessary?

Studies have increasingly linked one of the most common antimicrobial, triclosan (and its chemical cousin triclocarban), to a range of adverse health and environmental effects, from skin irritation, allergy susceptibility, bacterial and compounded antibiotic resistant, tainted water, and dioxin contamination to destruction of fragile aquatic ecosystems.

When introduced to the market in 1972, triclosan was confined to hospital and health care settings. An article in the journal Clinical Infectious Diseases, entitled "Consumer Antibacterial Soaps: Effective or Just Risky?" (2007), concludes that antibacterial soaps show no health benefits over plain soaps. This follows an 11-1 vote of the FDA Nonprescription Drugs Advisory Committee on October 20, 2005 on a statement that antibacterial soaps and washes are no more effective than regular soap and water in fighting infections.These antibacterial substances have also been shown to persist in the environment, contribute to the increasing rates of bacterial resistance and cause adverse health problems in humans and wildlife species.

Triclosan
Triclosan, one of the most prevalent antibacterial compounds found in products, is the focus of a campaign undertaken by a coalition of health and environmental groups led by Beyond Pesticides, aimed at removing triclosan from the market. Triclosan and similar antibacterial agents affect the central nervous system, are linked to endocrine disruption, increase allergies and asthma, promote bacterial resistance, cause environmental damage, degrade into dioxin, and has been proven to be no more effective against germs than regular soap and water.

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