Antibacterial soap

A liquid dish soap marketed as "Antibacterial" with the active ingredient chloroxylenol.

Antibacterial soap is a soap which contains chemical ingredients that purportedly assist in killing bacteria.[1] The majority of antibacterial soaps contain triclosan, though other chemical additives are also common.[2] The effectiveness of products branded as being antibacterial has been disputed by some academics as well as the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA).[3] In September 2016, the FDA banned the use of nineteen chemicals frequently used in such products due to this and insufficient information on the long-term health effects of their use.

History

Triclosan and other antibacterial agents have long been used in commercial cleaning products for hospitals and other healthcare settings, however they began to be used in home cleaning products during the 1990s.[3] In 2013, the U.S. FDA proposed that antibacterial soaps be banned unless the companies marketing these soaps provided evidence for their safety and effectiveness.[4] In September 2016, the FDA banned the common antibacterial ingredients triclosan and triclocarban, as well as 17 other ingredients from being used in consumer soaps.[5]

Ingredients

Triclosan and triclocarban are the most common compounds used as antibacterials in soaps.[6] However, other common antibacterial ingredients in soaps include benzalkonium chloride, benzethonium chloride, and chloroxylenol.[5]

Effectiveness

Claims that antibacterial soap is effective stem from the long-standing knowledge that triclosan can inhibit the growth of various bacteria, as well as some viruses and fungi.[2] However, more recent reviews have suggested that antibacterial soaps are no better than regular soaps at preventing illness or reducing bacteria on the hands of users.[2][4] On September 2, 2016, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration banned the use of 19 chemicals frequently used in "antibacterial" soaps and washes, including triclosan and triclocarban, stating: "There is no data demonstrating that over-the-counter antibacterial soaps are better at preventing illness than washing with plain soap and water.".[5] The agency also asserted that despite requests for such information, the FDA did not receive sufficient data for manufacturers on the long-term health effects of these chemicals. This ban does not apply to hand sanitizer.[6]

See also

References

  1. ↑ "FDA Taking Closer Look at 'Antibacterial' Soap". U.S. Food and Drug Administration. Retrieved 16 April 2016.
  2. 1 2 3 Aiello AE, Larson EL, Levy SB (September 2007). "Consumer Antibacterial Soaps: Effective or Just Risky?". Clinical Infectious Diseases. 45 (2): S137–47. doi:10.1086/519255.
  3. 1 2 "Five Reasons Why You Should Probably Stop Using Antibacterial Soap". Smithonian Magazine. 3 January 2014. Retrieved 3 September 2016.
  4. 1 2 "Antibacterial Soap? You Can Skip It, Use Plan Soap and Water". US FDA. Retrieved 24 October 2017.
  5. 1 2 3 Kodjak A (2 September 2016). "FDA Bans 19 Chemicals Used In Antibacterial Soaps". NPR. Retrieved 24 October 2017.
  6. 1 2 "FDA bans common ingredients in antibacterial soaps and body washes". Washington Post. 2 September 2016. Retrieved 3 September 2016.
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