A worrying new study has been published showing that chemicals from antibacterial soap and other detergents are dangerous for pregnant women and their unborn babies.
The main chemicals causing this risk are triclosan and triclocarban, compounds found in over 2000 products on the market including soap and toothpaste. The chemicals interfere with the way certain hormones function, which can hurt the development of unborn babies.
In this study scientists tested the urine and umbilical cord blood of 184 pregnant women. Over 85% were found to have these chemicals in their urine. More alarmingly, half of the women tested were found to have the chemicals in the umbilical cord, proving that they are reaching the unborn babies.
Exposure to these chemicals can cause development and reproductive problems in both humans and animals, and may be causing a rise in resistance to antibiotics.
The main cause of the problems with these chemicals is how ubiquitous they are.
"If you cut off the source of exposure, eventually triclosan and triclocarban would quickly be diluted out, but the truth is that we have universal use of these chemicals, and therefore also universal exposure," explained Dr Rold Halden, the lead investigator on the study.
The worst part of this shocking news is that triclosan and trilocarban are not even effective as antibacterial agents. They do not provide any benefits and could easily be removed from all products.
The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in the United States is currently reviewing whether these chemicals should be banned, but it is unclear whether the EU is having similar discussions.
