Would FDA ban antibacterial?

The Food and Drug Administration said it's reviewing the safety of triclosan, an antibacterial commonly used in hygiene and cosmetic products as some studies reveal some potential harmful effect, particularly on children's health.

But the agency also said there is nothing right now to worry about although Congressman Edward Markey wanted tight restriction on its use.

"Despite the fact that this chemical is found in everything from soaps to socks, there are many troubling questions about triclosan's effectiveness and potentially harmful effects, especially for children," Markey was quoted as saying in a statement.

Studies have found triclosan may alter hormone regulation and promote drug resistance in bacteria.

Hands harbor lots of bacteria and sometimes viruses.  But most microbes are harmless and some may be beneficial.  Experts have said there is no need for antibacterial.  Plain soap and water works as well as soap or detergent with antibacterial.

In the United States, there are two extremes. Some people use dirty hands as spoons and forks. Others use whatever they can to kill as many bacteria as they can.

Triclosan is added to consumer products to have some marketing edge making consumers to believe that products with something are better than others without.

Triclosan may pose some risk, some studies have shown.

One study published in the Environmental Science and Technology found pure triclosan can react with free chlorine in tap water generating cancer-causing agent chloroform.

The study was conducted by Peter Vikesland and colleagues at the Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University.

Triclosan was also found to have estrogenic and androgenic activity.

Researchers from the University of Reading in Reading UK found that triclosan causes endocrine disruption of aquatic wildlife and the chemical has become distributed ubiquitously across the ecosystem.  The study was published in the Journal of Applied Toxicology.

A health observer said that food consumers don't have to waste money on antibacterial. Most people except those who work in hospital settings may not have to use something to kill 99.9 percent of bacteria.

David Liu