I love nothing more than a good anti-bacterial scrub under scalding water, getting into every crack and crevice, prying under each nail bed, slapping and clapping my sudsy hands until they’re lobster red, then standing by the bathroom door until some rube turns the shit-smeared knob for me. Too bad that a lot of the ingredients we hope will keep us from eating fecal matter don’t have much effect.
The FDA has just banned 19 ingredients used in “anti-bacterial” hand soap. The ban includes triclosan and triclocarban, which have been studied for their negative effect on the endocrine system, hormones, and potentially even for causing breast cancer. The Hill has a statement from Janet Woodcock, the director of the FDA’s Center for Drug Evaluation and Research:
“Consumers may think antibacterial washes are more effective at preventing the spread of germs, but we have no scientific evidence that they are any better than plain soap and water… In fact, some data suggests that antibacterial ingredients may do more harm than good over the long-term.”
So what’s a filthy garbage-pawer like myself to do? Good ole plain soap and water will do just fine, though the FDA has not banned the use of hand sanitizers with the same ingredients. Better put start buying it in bulk.
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Still here. Still without airbrushing. Still with teeth.
