Link: DestinationGreen September 2006.
VICTORIA, CANADA -- Whether you're washing your hands or the kitchen countertops, it's best for your family's health and the environment to pass up antibacterial products in favour of plain soap and water, a University of Victoria researcher has found.
UVic molecular biologist Caren Helbing found while triclosan -- common in soaps, clothing, toys and other items having antibacterial properties -- isn't lethal in small quantities, it can potentially affect the human thyroid gland.
The thyroid plays a role in development, body temperature and metabolism.
"For most things, regular soap is just fine. In terms of children's products, they shouldn't have triclosan in them at all," Helbing said in an interview.
