The US government will soon start requiring soap makers to show the long term safety of antibacterial soaps, after fears that their use may be fueling a rise in superbugs, reported the AFP.
Antibacterial soaps typically contain the chemicals triclosan and triclocarban, ”which may carry unnecessary risks given that their benefits are unproven,” the US Federal Drug Administration said in a statement. Some studies have shown these soaps may affect thyroid, estrogen, and testosterone function in lab animals, and that they may be boosting people’s resistance to common antibiotics.
“New data suggest that the risks associated with long-term, daily use of antibacterial soaps may outweigh the benefits,” said Colleen Rogers, a lead microbiologist at FDA. “There are indications that certain ingredients in these soaps may contribute to bacterial resistance to antibiotics, and may have unanticipated hormonal effects that are of concern to FDA.”
The FDA move would require studies that directly test the ability of an antibacterial soap to provide a clinical benefit over washing with non-antibacterial soap. - AFP
Antibacterial soaps typically contain the chemicals triclosan and triclocarban, ”which may carry unnecessary risks given that their benefits are unproven,” the US Federal Drug Administration said in a statement. Some studies have shown these soaps may affect thyroid, estrogen, and testosterone function in lab animals, and that they may be boosting people’s resistance to common antibiotics.
“New data suggest that the risks associated with long-term, daily use of antibacterial soaps may outweigh the benefits,” said Colleen Rogers, a lead microbiologist at FDA. “There are indications that certain ingredients in these soaps may contribute to bacterial resistance to antibiotics, and may have unanticipated hormonal effects that are of concern to FDA.”
The FDA move would require studies that directly test the ability of an antibacterial soap to provide a clinical benefit over washing with non-antibacterial soap. - AFP
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