[Madam Theophilus]

The problem is not the soap, but the anti-bacterial agent, triclosan. Studies have shown triclosan can interfere with the body’s thyroid hormone metabolism and health groups have requested the EPA to stop its widespread use. The difficulty isn’t the one time you wash your hands, but the inadvertent high doses people are receiving because it is in so many products. This is especially a concern for children in public schools where the administration mandates the use of hand sanitizers, wet wipes, and anti-bacteria soaps.

[VanShuyten]

Triclosan was developed to replace phisohex (hexachlorophene)after the latter was removed from the market over unfounded worries about it being a cacinogen, although it did seem to be related to some kinds of neuropathies in infants exposed to high doses. None of the replacements have been as effective and most have their own problems.

Triclosan is in lots of products. Just check your toothpaste.

[madison10]

True that. They had some school children become very ill because they were licking the anti-bacterial soaps off their hands. The soap smelled good and these were little children.

[Boogieman]

Right, and also there is worry that by over-using it, we are inadvertently helping to create super-microbes that are resistant to it. Regular soap & water, properly used, is just as effective as the anti-bacterial stuff anyways. It’s just another marketing gimmick that the public has fallen for.