You make an informed choice.

Chemicals are currently omnipresent in our daily lives. They are such an integral part of it, that we sometimes forget their toxicity.

Thus, antibacterial, antifungal or antiviral products such as triclosan, which has been marketed since 1972, have proved to be a real health disaster. Its use in the hospital environment was quickly extended to the wider market of everyday hygiene.

Of course, at the doses given for each product taken individually, it does not present any danger, but when we cumulate liquid soaps, cosmetics, deodorants, shampoo, toothpaste and other antibacterial products, the combination of all these toxic molecules starts to be worrying.

In Canada, it is estimated that nearly 1600 commonly used products contain triclosan, and that nearly 80% of the population is exposed to this molecule. This is confirmed by urine analysts. This molecule is not only harmful to humans. It damages the entire environmental and aquatic ecosystem.

Scientists in California recently published a study about the impact of triclosan on liver function. They found that repeated administration of this molecule over a period of 8 months (equivalent to about 20 human years) could lead to proliferation of liver cells, development of fibrosis and very significant oxidative stress.

What is worrying is that the development of these factors would favour the inflammatory ground for the development of possible cancer cells. Animals highly sensitized to triclosan have an 80% increased risk of developing cancer compared to a 25% incidence under other conditions. Also, the tumors presented by these animals are much larger and more numerous.

Triclosan would therefore promote the development of microscopic liver tumors that would likely be induced by other toxic factors in our environment or diet.

Even if the data collected from animal studies are not always transferable to humans, it is likely that factors that are so harmful to animals are also harmful to humans.

Since in doubt it is rather advisable to abstain, why not use an ordinary soap, vinegar or lemon? Especially since it has been shown that properly soaping your hands for 20 seconds achieves the same aseptic result as using strong but toxic antibacterial products.

Sources for this article:
http://www.richardbeliveau.org/chroniques-prevention.html

Yueh MF et al. The commonly used antimicrobial additive triclosan is a liver tumor promoter. Proc Natl Acad Sci USA,2014;111:17200-5.