Antibacterial soaps banned in US amid claims they do "more harm than good"

Antibacterial soaps were banned from the US market on Friday in a final ruling by the Food and Drug Administration, which said that manufacturers had failed to prove the soaps were safe or more effective than normal products.

Dr Janet Woodcock, director of the FDA’s center for evaluation and research, said that certain antimicrobial soaps may not actually serve any health benefits at all.

“Consumers may think antibacterial washes are more effective at preventing the spread of germs, but we have no scientific evidence that they are any better than plain soap and water,” she said in a statement. “In fact, some data suggests that antibacterial ingredients may do more harm than good over the long term.”

Manufacturers had failed to show either the safety of “long-term daily use” or that the products were “more effective than plain soap and water in preventing illness and the spread of certain infections”.

The new federal rule applies to any soap or antiseptic product that has one or more of 19 chemical compounds, including triclocarbon, which is often found in bar soaps, and triclosan, often in liquid soaps. It does not affect alcohol-based hand sanitizers and wipes, which the FDA is still investigating, or certain healthcare products meant specifically for clinical settings. The FDA has given manufacturers a year to change their products or pull them off shelves.

The FDA first proposed a rule about the chemicals in 2013, following research that they might affect human hormones or change natural resistance to bacteria. The agency requested research from the producers to back up their health claims, but in the three years since has found that data lacking or their requests ignored.

Triclosan has been proven effective at killing bacteria if used at sustained length – far longer than the few minutes most people spend washing their hands – and was once only found in healthcare settings.

Recent studies have linked triclosan to a series of disruptions in human and animal health. A University of Chicago study released in July found that triclosan changed the microbiome inside human guts, and its researchers suggested that exposure could damage developing fetuses. A study from earlier this year found that overuse could also be contributing to antibiotic resistance, and a 2015 study found that antibacterial formulas were not more effective than soap and water.

Triclosan can be found in 93% of liquid soaps labeled “antibacterial” or “antimicrobial”, according to the FDA, though some companies, including Proctor & Gamble, have already begun phasing the chemical out of products. There are partial triclosan bans in the European Union and Minnesota, but the chemical remains common in toothpaste, as it is believed effective against the bacteria that cause gum disease.

People should still keep their hands clean, the FDA noted. “Washing with plain soap and running water remains one of the most important steps consumers can take to avoid getting sick and to prevent spreading germs to others,” the agency said. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends that if people need to use a hand sanitizer, it should have at least 60% alcohol.

Antibacterial soaps banned in US amid claims they do "more harm than good"

Toxic Mercury Discovered in an Increasing Number of Personal Care Products – Including Soaps, Anti-Aging Creams, Skin-Lighteners, and Cosmetics

Mercury has been discovered in an abundant amount of personal care products — including lotions, cosmetics, anti-aging creams, acne treatments, skin lighteners, antiseptic and beauty soaps.  Mercury is extremely toxic — and exposure can lead to serious health consequences.

It’s important to use cosmetics and skin care products that will help your skin — not damage it.  But for your safety, health, and well-being, it’s also critical to avoid personal care products that contain mercury.

In the last few years, mercury has been found in an increasing number of personal care products.  Fortunately, there’s ways to avoid these toxic products — if you know what to look for.  Here’s more on what to know — and what to look for.

Dangers of Mercury in Personal Care Products

Mercury exposure can cause serious health consequences. It can damage the brain, lungs, kidney, heart, and immune system of people of all ages.

The danger of mercury exposure isn’t just to people using products containing this chemical.  Families and pets of people using these products can suffer unpleasant and debilitating health conditions, as well

Arthur Simone, M.D., senior medical advisor at the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) clarifies how families become exposed.

“Your family might breathe mercury vapors released from these products. Your children might touch washcloths or towels that are contaminated with mercury. It could be as simple as touching someone’s cheek or face.”

Some people — including pregnant women, nursing babies, and young children — are particularly susceptible to mercury toxicity.  A baby may be particularly sensitive to the harm this toxic chemical can cause to their developing brains and nervous systems.  And newborns who nurse are vulnerable because the chemical is passed into breast milk.

Consumer Advice

In the last few years, the FDA and state health officials have discovered an increasing number of personal care products that contain mercury.  There have been cases where people exposed to these personal care products have had mercury poisoning or elevated levels of the chemical in their bodies.

Gordon Vrdoljak, Ph.D., of the California Department of Public Health, offers the following warning in an American Chemical Society press release.

“In the U.S., the limit on mercury in products is 1 part per million.  In some of these creams, we’ve been finding levels as high as 210,000 parts per million — really substantial amounts of mercury. If people are using the product quite regularly, their hands will exude it, it will get in their food, on their counter-tops, on the sheets their kids sleep on.”

Jason Humbert of FDA’s Office of Regulatory Affairs adds that these toxic products are usually manufactured overseas — then illegally sold in the United States.  They’re found in shops that cater to the African, Asian, Latino, or Middle Eastern communities.

Social media sites promote them online.  Toxic personal care products are also sold through mobile apps. Some consumers visiting other countries may buy cosmetics or personal care products containing mercury — then bring the products back to the U.S. for personal use.

Consumer Info

It’s highly recommended that you don’t assume a personal care product is fine — especially if the ingredients are not listed and there is no product label.  Federal law mandates that ingredients be listed on the label of any cosmetic or nonprescription drug.

So do not use a product that doesn’t have a label. Additionally, don’t use cosmetics labeled in languages other than English — unless English labeling is also provided. The FDA warns that’s also a sign that the product may be marketed illegally.

Humbert adds some additional advice to consumers.

“Many of these products are coming into the country through illegal channels.  That’s why it’s so important for consumers and sellers to know about the dangers of possible mercury poisoning associated with the use of these skin products.”

Checking the label is a proven way to find out if mercury is in a personal care product.  If the words “mercurous chloride,” “calomel,” “mercuric,” “mercurio,” or “mercury” are listed on the label; then the toxin is in the product.  You should stop using the product immediately.

Most of all, be cautious of personal care products marketed as skin lighteners and anti-aging treatments that remove age spots, wrinkles, blemishes, and freckles.  And acne treatments products are questionable, as well

Symptoms of Exposure

High exposure to inorganic mercury may result in damage to the gastrointestinal tract, the nervous system, and the kidneys.  It is absorbed through the gastrointestinal tract and affects other systems through this route.

The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) says outside the U.S., inorganic mercury is used in making cosmetic skin creams.

The CDC notes how long-term exposure of this toxin is harmful to humans.

“If repeatedly eaten or applied to the skin over long period of time, some inorganic mercury compounds can cause effects similar to what is seen with long term mercury vapor exposure, including neurological disturbances, memory problems, skin rash, and kidney abnormalities.”

Symptoms of exposure include the following:

• skin rashes and dermatitis


• mood swings


• memory loss


• mental disturbances


• muscle weakness

Protect Yourself and Family

It’s important to thoroughly wash your hands and other parts of your body that have come in contact with personal care products that contain mercury.

You should also contact your health care professional or a medical care clinic for more advice.  And if you’re concerned and have questions, call your health care professional or the Poison Center at 1-800-222-1222.  The Poison Center is open 24 hours a day.

Furthermore, before you throw out a product that may contain mercury the FDA advises to seal it in a plastic bag or leak-proof container.  For additional support, check with your local environmental, health, or solid waste agency for instructions on how to dispose the material.

Some communities have special collections or other options for disposing hazardous household waste — including personal care products that contain mercury.

Toxic Mercury Discovered in an Increasing Number of Personal Care Products – Including Soaps, Anti-Aging Creams, Skin-Lighteners, and Cosmetics