Antibacterial products have appeared in increasing quantities in the last few years; but, contrary to common perception, using antibacterial soaps, lotions, etc., isn't any better for you than good old soap and water. In fact, it can actually be worse, for you and the environment, for a few reasons:

For starters, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration conducted a panel in 2005 that determined that using antimicrobial products doesn't provide any more protection than regular soap. Using these products can even be toxic.

Without clear evidence that antimicrobial products truly prevent infection, the American Medical Association's official position speaks against the practice of adding antimicrobials to the products we use. They have even urged the FDA to avoid using these chemicals until convincing evidence of their effectiveness is available.

Triclocarban (TCC) is one of the most commonly used antimicrobials and is also a pesticide. TCC leads to reproductive complications (for mammals) as well as cancer, and, for human babies, can cause blue-baby syndrome. When TCC residue washes down the drain, it's immune to water treatments, meaning that most of the TCC resurfaces in municipal sludge and is found in over half of U.S. streams. Since municipal sludge is often used as crop fertilizer, TCC can even potentially appear in our food supply.

As we continue to fill the environment with antimicrobials, pathogens grow increasingly resistant to antibiotics. Some antimicrobials actually encourage the natural production of antibiotic-resistant bacteria, such as E. coli.

At present, there isn't any required tracking of TCC. However, we do know that annually about 1 millions pounds of TCC are released in the U.S. alone. In addition, roughly 1,500 antibacterial products have been introduced to the market since 2000. One clear message in this data is the need to consider the complete life cycle of the chemicals we create and use.

For more information about antibacterial products and their effects, check out Tabitha Alterman's article, 'Why You Don't Need Antibacterial Soap,' from Mother Earth News magazine.

This tip is adapted from 'Why You Don't Need Antibacterial Soap,' by Tabitha Alterman.