Use a natural soap to avoid harsh chemicals
Triclosan
The potential dangers of chemically dense soap have been well documented, but one chemical that has seemingly gone under the radar is triclosan. Triclosan can be found in products that many of us use on a daily basis, like
toothpaste, hand soap, and shampoo. It is included in these products as an antibacterial agent, but it may actually be causing harm to the environment and to your body.
Once triclosan has been used and washed down the drain it can seep into the environment where it can cause harm to water and the organisms that inhabit it. A recent study conducted in Germany tested 500 pollutants and harmful materials, and the research showed that triclosan was the sixth most common pollutant found in nature. Triclosan can be found in the organisms that live in the water, but even more disturbing is that it can be commonly found in humans. Through contact with human skin, triclosan can accumulate within breast milk and plasma.
Triclosan Dangers
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration consider triclosan to be safe, but they are currently reviewing research to determine whether it is actually safe. Triclosan is believed to affect the body negatively in numerous ways, and it can cause great harm to the cardiovascular system. It is also an endocrine disrupter that can cause hormonal chaos, but the most disturbing aspect of triclosan is that it has been linked to antibiotic resistant pathogens. The decreasing effectiveness of antibiotics has been the source for public worry for years now, and triclosan may be speeding up the process. For these reasons it is imperative that people become better educated on triclosan and reduce their use of products with triclosan.
The growing concern over triclosan has led many to stop using products that contain this antibacterial chemical, and you and your family should consider alternatives to products containing triclosan. The use of triclosan isn’t worth the risks, especially when you consider that there are many antimicrobial agents found in nature, like olive leaf extract. For the safety of you, your family, and the environment try some of these triclosan free products.
