Researchers from Korea University discovered that antibacterial hand soap, which contains the chemical triclosan, is no better at killing germs than regular hand soap.

You’re standing in the store and choosing between two soaps: antibacterial or standard. You decide to go for antibacterial because you want to be sure all the germs sticking to your hands are destroyed once and for all.

A new study proves that antibacterial soap is not at all superior to regular soap, despite clever marketing techniques. In fact, antibacterial soap may have unknown risks associated with its use.

The Study

Researchers simulated regular hand washing sessions with both antibacterial and standard soap.
Image: Gtec 24

Published in the Journal of Antimicrobial Chemotherapy, the study found that soap possessing the topical antibiotic triclosan is just as effective as regular hand soap.

Triclosan is an antibacterial and antifungal agent used in consumer products, including soaps, detergents and toys.

Korea University researcher Min-Suk Rhee and her peers used 20 strains of bacteria to measure the effectiveness of different kinds of soap. The researchers used one standard formulation and one with 0.3 percent triclosan, which is the maximum percentage allowed by law.

In the test, the soap was used for 20 seconds to mimic a regular hand-washing session. When measuring how much bacteria that was removed by each type of soap, researchers found no difference between the effectiveness of the two variations.

However, after nine hours, the triclosan-containing soap seemed to have killed more germs than the regular soap.

Potential Risks Of Triclosan

Triclosan is associated with various allergic reactions, hay fever and antibiotic resistance.
Image: Home So Good

Researchers also asked 16 participants to use both soaps before counting how much bacteria had been rinsed off their hands. There was no significant difference in the second test.

A study published in the Journal Of Allergy And Clinical Immunology found that long-term use of triclosan could cause various types of allergies, in addition to hay fever.

“Antibacterial activities of triclosan have been well documented. However, its risk remains controversial since various adverse effects have been reported, including allergen, antibiotic resistance, carcinogenic impurities and bioaccumulation,” Rhee says. “Our study indicates there was no significant difference in antiseptic effects.”

The FDA is currently reviewing triclosan for safety. The chemical has reportedly caused skin rashes and allergic reactions,  and also led to an increase in antibiotic-resistant bacteria. As the soap destroys pathogens on the skin, the body becomes more antibiotic resistant.

Studies show that standard soap is just as effective as antibacterial soap. Messing with triclosan, even if you’re trying to get clean, may be an unnecessary risk.

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Poison control reports a 400 percent increase in the number of calls related to young children ingesting hand sanitizer.

Hand sanitizer is innovative. It’s a quick and easy way to keep germs at bay. But if ingested by children, the disinfectant can be very dangerous.

Since 2010, poison control centers report a 400 percent increase in the amount of children aged 12 and under who are becoming ill from consuming hand sanitizer.

Evidence Of Poisoning

The Georgia Poison Center has analyzed call data from poison control centers across the nation. Representatives from the center found a 400 percent hike in the amount of calls related to hand sanitizer poisoning.

Hand sanitized contains 45 percent to 95 percent alcohol, according to CNN. Alcohol poisoning can occur if just two or three pumps are consumed.

Children and toddlers are especially susceptible to the toxic effects of the popular germ killer.

Six-year-old Nhaijah Russell drank three or four squirts of hand sanitizer at school, which she said tasted like strawberries. Russell ended up in the emergency room, unable to walk or speak clearly.

Russell’s doctor, Dr. Chris Ritchey, told CNN that her blood-alcohol level was .179, which is twice the legal limit for an adult. The poisoning caused Russell to fall and hit her head, which prompted doctors to keep her over night to monitor signs of brain trauma.

It is important to note how much hand sanitizer is ingested. Smaller amounts may be less dangerous, but poison control should be contacted if any amount is ingested.

“A hand sanitizer pump dispenses approximately 2.5 mL of liquid. If one pump of a 62% ethanol-containing hand sanitizer was ingested by an average 2 year old weighing 15 kg (33 lbs), a blood alcohol level of 17.3 mg/dL would be expected, considerably below a toxic level of 80-100 mg/dL,” according to Texas Poison Control Network. 

A Slow-Growing Trend

While older children may intentionally ingest hand sanitizer, it is unlikely that younger children are aware of the product’s alcohol content.
Image: Babble

The Georgia Poison Center’s director Dr. Gaylord Lopez said that 3,266 cases involving young children ingesting hand sanitizer was reported to poison control centers in 2010. In 2014, the number increased to 16,117 cases.

Ingesting hand sanitizer is becoming a dangerous trend. While teens and pre-teens may be drinking it to get drunk, young children are unaware of what they’re consuming.

Lopez urges parents and teachers to keep hand sanitizer out of children’s reach, monitor its use, or switch to non-alcohol based products or sanitizing wipes.

Contact the American Association of Poison Control Centers at 1 (800) 222-1222 for more information.

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