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Are Anti-Bacterial Soaps Poisoning Our Water?
Loading ...An ingredient that is common in antibacterial soaps frequently ends up in lakes and streams, where it breaks down into a suite of potentially toxic chemicals that could harm wildlife and human health, according to new research.
The ingredient, called triclosan, made headlines last month when the U.S. Food and Drug Administration announced plans to review its safety. Growing evidence suggests that triclosan can disrupt the hormones in animals that regulate growth and reproduction. There are also concerns that the chemical might contribute to the spread of antibiotic-resistant strains of bacteria.
In one of the newest studies, published this week in the journal Environmental Science and Technology, scientists reported that triclosan is responsible for a huge surge in four types of dioxins in a Minnesota lake over the last few decades. Dioxins are a class of potent pollutants that have been linked to cancers, developmental issues, immune problems, and other health effects.
via Discovery News.
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