Are Your Cleansers Really “Clean”?

Not long ago, the only beauty products available to most of us were ordinary soaps for our hair and bodies, toothpastes, and a few simple cosmetics. Today, in the United States alone, personal care products represent a $20 billion a year industry—and one that has changed dramatically in recent decades. The potions and lotions lining our shelves have morphed into chemical powerhouses pumped with dyes, preservatives, detergents, and antimicrobials, to name just a few of the agents promising cleaner, brighter, and disease-free living.

Contrary to their billing, however, many of these products have damaging effects on our health, as well as to our water and wildlife. Some of these impacts can occur during use, particularly to young children or to those of us with more sensitive bodies. Other consequences are felt far away, occurring only after the products are flushed down the drain. And almost all of these products come with extensive packaging that is quickly discarded, contributing to mountains of plastic and paper waste.

Antibacterials? Here's the Rub

For most of human history, soap got rid of germs by making surface dirt and oils slippery enough to be rubbed and rinsed off. Since World War II, however, human-made chemicals have altered the traditional recipe. Manufacturers increasingly fortify liquid soaps, shower gels, and body washes with a wide range of fragrances and other inputs—including germ-fighting “antibacterial” properties—and tout the benefits of doing so.

But studies show that antibacterial soaps are not significantly more effective at combating germs than regular soaps. Even worse, their popularity is contributing to the growing problem of drug-resistance—creating greater opportunities for the emergence of deadly “super-bugs” that are immune to germ-fighting agents. As a consequence, many antibiotics and other compounds used to fight life-threatening infections like malaria and tuberculosis are no longer as effective as they once were. When it comes to germ prevention, there's really no substitute for plain old soap and water.

DID YOU KNOW…

Although labeled antibacterial, most germ- fighting soaps are actually antimicrobial, attacking viruses as well as bacteria.

The global market for soap is projected to reach $6 billion by 2008. Growth is fastest in Asia , where demand for enhanced soap products—including antimicrobials—is rising rapidly.

Triclosan, the leading germ-fighting compound in antimicrobial soaps, acts by destroying enzymes in bacteria cell walls so they cannot replicate; it targets the same enzyme as the antibiotic isoniazid, used to treat tuberculosis.

In the United States , 75 percent of liquid soaps and nearly 30 percent of bar soaps now contain triclosan and other germ- fighting compounds, whose prevalence can foster the growth of bacterial resistance.

A 2002 study by the U.S. Geological Survey found that triclosan and phthalates from antibacterial soaps and other detergents were polluting water bodies across the U.S. in low concentrations through wastewater.

Phthalates, chemicals commonly used in nail polishes and to fragrance personal care products, have been shown to cause birth defects in animals. Tests in the United States indicate that phthalates are being retained in human tissue at much higher levels than was previously believed.

Toxic preservatives—including compounds that release formaldehyde, a probable carcinogen—are used to prolong the shelf lives of many personal care products. Dermatologists rank preservatives as the second most likely category of ingredients to cause skin reactions.

Certain coloring agents and dyes used in cosmetics are common allergens and irritants, while others contain lead acetate, a heavy metal that is toxic to the nervous system.

Because our skin is permeable, chemicals applied to the outside of our bodies eventually make their way inside and are circulated by the bloodstream—one reason to be wary of the chemicals we put onto our skin.

As many as two-thirds of all hand cleansers on U.S. store shelves are labeled “antibacterial,” designed to fight germs on contact. But scientists are increasingly concerned about the link between these products and the spread of drug-resistant “super-germs.”

SUCCESS

Some manufacturers have started using organically grown botanical ingredients in their personal care products, a move that supports organic farmers who are drastically reducing the use of toxins on their farms.

Some manufacturers have voluntarily stopped testing their products on laboratory animals, a process that subjects rabbits and other mammals to irritants and sometimes lethal doses of chemicals.

Scientists are pressuring manufacturers to stop using antibacterial agents in their products, except in items targeted at hospitals and other facilities where the presence of germs can be life threatening.

Responding to strong activist and consumer pressure, the European Parliament adopted a resolution in January 2003 that prohibits the use of certain phthalates in cosmetics

To fight growing drug resistance, groups like the World Health Organization and the Alliance for the Prudent Use of Antibiotics have launched global campaigns against the misuse of antimicrobials, with the aim of informing individuals, health care workers, and manufacturers about this growing problem.

SIMPLE THINGS YOU CAN DO:

Stop buying soaps and other home products that contain triclosan and other antimicrobial agents—including toothpaste, cosmetics, carpets, plastic kitchenware, sponges, and even toys. Urge your family, friends, and workplace not to buy them either.

Wash your hands by rubbing thoroughly with ordinary soap and warm water before preparing food and after using the toilet, as this is still the best way to prevent colds and food-borne disease.

Encourage your doctor and other health care professionals to use alcohol-based hand-rub gels to stop the spread of germs, rather than antimicrobial products.

Look for product labels that indicate the presence of organic ingredients, or that note that the product was not tested on animals. Avoid using products labeled “antibacterial.”

Consider the size of an item's packaging in relation to the size of the item. Opt for the paper-wrapped bar of soap, for instance, over a liquid cleanser packaged in a bottle that must be tossed out or recycled when the product is used up.

Ask your favorite stores to stock organic lines of personal care products.

If the labels on your favorite products aren't clear about what's in the products and how they are tested, contact the company and express your concerns.

Spend an hour going through your home to identify any products that may have antibacterial properties, in particular hand and dish soaps and bathroom cleansers. The next time you go shopping, replace these items with plain soaps and cleansers that are free of these compounds.

For more information look at:

Alliance for the Prudent Use of Antibiotics (www.tufts.edu/med/apua) is an international organization that helps educate consumers and doctors about the risks associated with antibiotic resistance. It provides information about the overuse of antibiotics and other antimicrobial agents, including in ordinary household products.

World Health Organization (www.who.int/health_topics/drug_resistance/en) provides links to worldwide activities, reports, news, and events related to the topic of drug resistance.

U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (www.cdc.gov/drugresistance) offers a wide range of information on the risks of antimicrobial resistance.

Environmental Working Group (EWG) has launched a campaign to raise awareness about the hazards posed by phthalates in cosmetics, at www.nottoopretty.org.

OurStolenFuture.org (www.ourstolenfuture.org) is a source for a wide range of scientific research about the effects of endocrine disrupting chemicals, including phthalates, on humans and wildlife.

People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) (www.peta.org) offers information about how animals are used for testing, alternatives to animal testing, and lists of companies and their testing policies.