Colorful bottles of liquid hand soap line the shelves of stores across the country – and most contain the antibacterial agent triclosan. But the U.S. Food and Drug Administration is questioning whether these products actually prevent the spread of germs, and whether their use has any negative consequences.
A systematic review on antibacterial soaps concluded that products containing triclosan provided no health benefit compared with regular hand-washing soap, but did pose some risks. Some data in the review suggested that the use of triclosan would create antibiotic-resistant bacteria – a problem that makes it more difficult to treat infections.
Other studies have found that triclosan alters hormone regulation in animals, but there are no data that show the chemical has the same effect in humans.
For its part, the FDA is asking manufacturers to provide evidence that antibacterial soap is effective and safe. If soap-makers can’t prove these products make a difference in preventing the spread of germs and don’t cause serious side effects, the FDA will likely require them to remove the antibacterial chemicals.
In the meantime, I don’t plan to buy any more antibacterial soap for our house. If there’s no evidence that using these chemicals is helpful, I’d rather avoid any potential side effects.
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