Dangerous Pesticides in Your Hand Soap?

April 17, 2009


Look carefully at the list of ingredients on your antibacterial soap bottle!

Do you spy triclosan?

If so, you have just located a dangerous pesticide lurking in your home and we want to know about it. And we want you to act to protect yourself.

You could find triclosan in many common soaps, facial cleansers, exfoliants, acne medicines, toothpaste, cosmetics, deodorant and other personal care products. If you do, please visit our new triclosan webpage and tell us where you find triclosan in your home!

Here are just a few of reasons you should be concerned about triclosan:

-- In 2005, an FDA advisory panel of experts voted 11 to 1 that antibacterial soaps were no more effective than regular soap and water in fighting infections.

-- Scientists are concerned that the accumulation of triclosan in waterways and soil results in hazardous residues in the fish and food crops that we eat.

-- Today, triclosan has become so common that it has shown up in blood, urine and breast milk of people across the globe.

-- Triclosan creates more potent strains of bacteria, increasing antibacterial and antibiotic resistance.




In plastics or fabrics, triclosan is sometimes marketed as Microban or Biofresh, and in other products it can be called Irgasan® (DP 300 or PG 60), Lexol-300, Ster-Zac or Cloxifenolum.

Now that you know about triclosan, are you ready to take the anti-triclosan pledge? We hope so and we hope you'll invite others to do the same.



Learn more about what's lurking in your soap!


Stay safe.

Kathy Dolan
The Water Team
Food & Water Watch



Food & Water Watch, a nonprofit consumer organization based in Washington, D.C., works to ensure clean water and safe food in the United States and around the world. We challenge the corporate control and abuse of our food and water resources by empowering people to take action and transforming the public consciousness about what we eat and drink. For more information, visit www.foodandwaterwatch.org.