Antibacterial Soap Now Linked to Heart, Muscle Issues
We think that if soap keeps germs away, antibacterial soap may be do an even better job at keeping us healthy, right?
Maybe not.
For a few years now health groups and organizations have been raising a stink about the potential harmful effects of antibacterial soaps, including causing potential allergies in children. Now, a new study from the University of California, Davis, says that triclosan–a chemical found in antibacterial soap and other products like toothpaste and mouthwash–may cause heart and muscle issues.
Harmful Effects of Antibacterial Soap and Other Products Made with Triclosan
A Smithsonian article reported, “Studies have shown that the chemical can disrupt the endocrine systems of several different animals, binding to receptor sites in the body, which prevents the thyroid hormone from functioning normally. Additionally, triclosan penetrates the skin and enters the bloodstream more easily than previously thought, and has turned up everywhere from aquatic environments to human breast milk in troubling quantities.”
The impairment to muscles can cause heart disease and even heart failure. It has also been connected to allergies and some cancers.
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However, Dr. Isaac Pessah, professor and chair of the Department of Molecular Biosciences in the UC Davis School of Veterinary Medicine, and the study’s lead author, said people may not immediately feel the effects of the chemical.
“The target we’ve identified has been implicated in the impairment of heart function over a period of time. If an average individual loses 10 percent of their cardiac function, they’re not going to feel it. But if you’re a person with heart disease already at 50 percent of heart function capacity, reducing 10 percent or 20 percent could markedly hurt your health,” Pessah said to Fox News.
Triclosan can also be found in deodorants, bedding, wash cloths, towels, kitchen utensils, toys and other bath and household products.
Image: graur razvan ionut
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About the Author (Author Profile)
Jacqueline Wilson is a prime parent, wife, published author and freelance writer. She writes here, on Prime Parents’ Club, and on her observational parenting humor blog, WritRams.com: Writer Ramblings on Parenting Imperfectly. Follow her on Twitter as @WritRams and on her Facebook page. She recently wrote an e-Book on the REAL truth about how blogs make money. She recently started Project Purse Club, a support and networking group dedicated to changing the way women treat each other in business and blogging.Subscribe
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suddenly the bubble boy’s mother doesn’t look like such a lunatic any more.