Comments on: 2nds of Food for Thought: The evil villain Triclosan… http://www.kitchenstewardship.com/2009/02/21/triclosan/ Balancing God's Gifts...One Baby Step at a Time Fri, 12 Mar 2010 04:10:28 -0400 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.2 hourly 1 By: JulieVW http://www.kitchenstewardship.com/2009/02/21/triclosan/comment-page-1/#comment-8010 JulieVW Fri, 18 Dec 2009 21:23:32 +0000 http://kitchenstewardship.wordpress.com/?p=135#comment-8010 I've avoided anti-bacterial soaps for years. But last night I opened a tube of toothpaste last night, and just happened to glance at the active ingredient list on the box. . . . There is triclosan in my toothpaste - YIKES!!!! Time to get something new. I’ve avoided anti-bacterial soaps for years. But last night I opened a tube of toothpaste last night, and just happened to glance at the active ingredient list on the box. . . . There is triclosan in my toothpaste – YIKES!!!! Time to get something new.

]]> By: Dianne http://www.kitchenstewardship.com/2009/02/21/triclosan/comment-page-1/#comment-41 Dianne Tue, 03 Mar 2009 01:18:51 +0000 http://kitchenstewardship.wordpress.com/?p=135#comment-41 Excellent info. Thanks for explaining this! Excellent info. Thanks for explaining this!

]]> By: All Things Eco Blog Carnival Volume Fourty | Focus Organic.com http://www.kitchenstewardship.com/2009/02/21/triclosan/comment-page-1/#comment-40 All Things Eco Blog Carnival Volume Fourty | Focus Organic.com Mon, 02 Mar 2009 18:43:45 +0000 http://kitchenstewardship.wordpress.com/?p=135#comment-40 [...] article gives us information about the Act, as well as some scary statistics. Katie presents 2nds of Food for Thought: The evil villain Triclosan posted at Kitchen Stewardship. Katie says, "An informational essay on triclosan, the nasty [...] [...] article gives us information about the Act, as well as some scary statistics. Katie presents 2nds of Food for Thought: The evil villain Triclosan posted at Kitchen Stewardship. Katie says, “An informational essay on triclosan, the nasty [...]

]]> By: Sopor42 http://www.kitchenstewardship.com/2009/02/21/triclosan/comment-page-1/#comment-39 Sopor42 Wed, 25 Feb 2009 14:50:00 +0000 http://kitchenstewardship.wordpress.com/?p=135#comment-39 Not only is it in soap here in the office... but I'd be willing to bet that it's in soap in a lot of commercial, public, and industrial bathrooms! This is SoftSoap brand that comes in the bag-in-a-box that's used in wall-dispensers, and it's the orange-colored transparent stuff... which seems pretty prevalent. Not only is it in soap here in the office… but I’d be willing to bet that it’s in soap in a lot of commercial, public, and industrial bathrooms! This is SoftSoap brand that comes in the bag-in-a-box that’s used in wall-dispensers, and it’s the orange-colored transparent stuff… which seems pretty prevalent.

]]> By: Katie http://www.kitchenstewardship.com/2009/02/21/triclosan/comment-page-1/#comment-38 Katie Tue, 24 Feb 2009 02:05:31 +0000 http://kitchenstewardship.wordpress.com/?p=135#comment-38 I'd never heard of chloroxylenol, but here's what I found: The EPA says: "Chloroxylenol is an antimicrobial used to control bacteria, algae and fungi in adhesives, emulsions, paints and wash tanks. It also is used to sanitize bathroom premises, diaper pails, laundry equipment, human bedding and pet living quarters in households, hospitals and other institutions." It's not toxic to birds, but extremely so to fish. <a href="http://www.epa.gov/oppsrrd1/REDs/factsheets/3045fact.pdf" rel="nofollow">source</a> No info on Dr. Mercola's site or EWG, which I was surprised about. The <a href="http://www.sciencelab.com/xMSDS-Chloroxylenol-9923450" rel="nofollow">MDS Data Sheet</a> says: "Hazardous in case of skin contact (irritant), of ingestion. Slightly hazardous in case of skin contact (sensitizer), of inhalation." This stuff is in soap you have? Yikes. It sounds as though chloroxylenol works similarly to triclosan, but perhaps stronger (?) and very effective at killing 'streptococcus' bacteria. This <a href="http://murphylibrary.uwlax.edu/digital/jur/2000/koecher-krenke.pdf" rel="nofollow">study </a>showed no difference in effectiveness between lotion soap, antibacterial with triclosan and antibacterial with chloroxylenol. Kitchen Stewardship says: Stick with what works. Wash your hands. Unless you're going into surgery, just use soap. Question anything new and flashy, and if it sounds more potent than you need, it probably is! Thanks for your comment! I learned something new today. :) I’d never heard of chloroxylenol, but here’s what I found:

The EPA says: “Chloroxylenol is an antimicrobial used to control bacteria, algae and
fungi in adhesives, emulsions, paints and wash tanks. It also is used to
sanitize bathroom premises, diaper pails, laundry equipment, human bedding
and pet living quarters in households, hospitals and other institutions.” It’s not toxic to birds, but extremely so to fish. source

No info on Dr. Mercola’s site or EWG, which I was surprised about.

The MDS Data Sheet says: “Hazardous in case of skin contact (irritant), of ingestion.
Slightly hazardous in case of skin contact (sensitizer), of inhalation.” This stuff is in soap you have? Yikes.

It sounds as though chloroxylenol works similarly to triclosan, but perhaps stronger (?) and very effective at killing ’streptococcus’ bacteria. This study showed no difference in effectiveness between lotion soap, antibacterial with triclosan and antibacterial with chloroxylenol.

Kitchen Stewardship says: Stick with what works. Wash your hands. Unless you’re going into surgery, just use soap. Question anything new and flashy, and if it sounds more potent than you need, it probably is!

Thanks for your comment! I learned something new today. :)

]]> By: Sopor42 http://www.kitchenstewardship.com/2009/02/21/triclosan/comment-page-1/#comment-37 Sopor42 Mon, 23 Feb 2009 17:41:56 +0000 http://kitchenstewardship.wordpress.com/?p=135#comment-37 These are some good posts... I've been an advocate of avoiding anti-bacterial stuff for a while, purely from a standpoint that if you don't exercise your immune system... it'll get weak! Of course I've been a bit hypocritical... I use antibacterial handsoap and body wash at home, gonna have to change that! But I was wondering, do you know anything about the effects of Chloroxylenol in "antiseptic" handsoap? It's chlorine based I'm assuming... so is it just as bad as Triclosan environmentally? These are some good posts… I’ve been an advocate of avoiding anti-bacterial stuff for a while, purely from a standpoint that if you don’t exercise your immune system… it’ll get weak! Of course I’ve been a bit hypocritical… I use antibacterial handsoap and body wash at home, gonna have to change that!

But I was wondering, do you know anything about the effects of Chloroxylenol in “antiseptic” handsoap? It’s chlorine based I’m assuming… so is it just as bad as Triclosan environmentally?

]]> By: Katie http://www.kitchenstewardship.com/2009/02/21/triclosan/comment-page-1/#comment-36 Katie Sun, 22 Feb 2009 20:12:19 +0000 http://kitchenstewardship.wordpress.com/?p=135#comment-36 It is scary that this information isn't more widely understood. Hand sanitizers usually have an active ingredient of ethyl alcohol, which is different than triclosan. Because of some of the risks of frequent handwashing for medical personnel (for their own skin and their patients), alcohol-based sanitizers are recommended for doctors and nurses between patients, whereas antimicrobial soaps are suggested for pre-surgery and working with severely immuno-depressed individuals. See http://www.cdc.gov/ncidod/eid/vol7no2/larson.htm for more. I'll be posting on sanitizers specifically this spring -- for now, just look out for that triclosan! It is scary that this information isn’t more widely understood. Hand sanitizers usually have an active ingredient of ethyl alcohol, which is different than triclosan. Because of some of the risks of frequent handwashing for medical personnel (for their own skin and their patients), alcohol-based sanitizers are recommended for doctors and nurses between patients, whereas antimicrobial soaps are suggested for pre-surgery and working with severely immuno-depressed individuals. See http://www.cdc.gov/ncidod/eid/vol7no2/larson.htm for more.

I’ll be posting on sanitizers specifically this spring — for now, just look out for that triclosan!

]]> By: Carolyn http://www.kitchenstewardship.com/2009/02/21/triclosan/comment-page-1/#comment-35 Carolyn Sun, 22 Feb 2009 06:27:01 +0000 http://kitchenstewardship.wordpress.com/?p=135#comment-35 I found this very interesting, considering the craze for gel hand sanitizers. I am a nurse and work in a hospital in the inpatient setting and we are constantly hearing that plain old soap is it when it comes to stopping these super bugs. And they truly are SUPER. Part of me wants to believe that without some sort of exposure to germs, however minute, our bodies would never build up the immunity (or resistance) to fight anything. I found this very interesting, considering the craze for gel hand sanitizers. I am a nurse and work in a hospital in the inpatient setting and we are constantly hearing that plain old soap is it when it comes to stopping these super bugs. And they truly are SUPER. Part of me wants to believe that without some sort of exposure to germs, however minute, our bodies would never build up the immunity (or resistance) to fight anything.

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