Antibacterial and antifungal agent Triclosan (5-chloro-2-(2,4-dichlorophenoxy)phenol) has been associated with several health dangers:
- Triclosan significantly decreases circulating concentrations of the thyroid hormone thyroxine (T4) and to a lesser extent triiodothyronine (T3)
- Triclosan causes fetal bone malformations
- Triclosan causes estrogenic activities in human breast cancer cells, which may stimulate the growth and development of cancer cells
- Triclosan impairs muscle function, and is linked to an increase in allergies among children
- Triclosan Links to Antibiotic Resistance, and may be contributing to the spreading of antibiotic-resistant bacteria to critically important antibiotics including erythromycin, ciprofloxacin, ampicillin, and gentamicin
- Triclosan has been shown to bioaccumulate in your body! It readily penetrates your skin and enters your bloodstream much easier than was once thought, and it is now having been found to be widespread in blood, breast milk and urine.
- Triclosan found in antibacterial soap; dish soaps and detergents, body washes, toothpaste and even cutting boards and… lipstick.
- Wash your hands with good soap and hot water.
- Eucalyptus and Tea Tree essential oils have been found to be potent antibacterial for use on household surfaces – add 20 drops of each to a spray bottle of water, shake well before use, then spray and wipe as usual.
- For disinfection you can also use misting 3% hydrogen peroxide followed by misting with vinegar killed virtually all Salmonella, Shigella, and E. coli bacteria on heavily contaminated food and surfaces. Using one after the other (separate spray bottles) was found much more effective than mixing them together.
