Triclosan has been used in hand soaps, hand sanitizers, body washes, and other personal care products for a while now. And people buy them to stay as healthy and germ-free as possible.

The problem? Triclosan is a strong antibacterial designed for use in hospitals, where germs are rampant, not our homes. Too much contact with this heavy duty ingredient can cause health issues like skin and eye irritation, hormonal disruption, and organ toxicity. Not only that, but bacteria are developing resistance to it.

What’s more, there’s some controversy over whether or not it can effectively kill viruses–like the cold or flu virus. Chemical company BASF points to several viruses including SARS that can be killed with triclosan, but FDA data show it may not be effective in preventing the spread of common cold and flu viruses.

The FDA saw the toxic light on this (and 18 other ingredients commonly used to make antibacterial soaps), and put a ban on their use in consumer (i.e., not for hospitals and food service settings) products. Companies who use these ingredients have one year to reformulate or take the products off the market.

Well, that’s a step in the healthy direction. But how are we supposed to keep ourselves germ-free this cold and flu season without powerful antibacterial hand soap and sanitizer? The FDA found, while investigating triclosan and related ingredients, that a good hand washing with soap and warm water is an effective way of steering clear of germs and infection.

Time to get shopping for safer products free from harsh antibacterials and other toxic ingredients. Of course, we aren’t always near a sink. So, grab yourself a natural hand sanitizer for de-germing on the go.

7 Natural Alternatives to Antibacterial Soap and Sanitizer

1. 100% Pure Hand Wash goes a step beyond simple soap. As with all products this brand creates, this unique formula is created with unexpected ingredients, like Sake and coffee cherry. Available in three scents.

2. Dr. Bronner’s Organic Pump Soap cleans without drying. Comes in a big 12 oz bottle and several scents.

3. SKIN Oodles of Orange Hand & Body Wash is not only nontoxic and made with the most natural ingredients, but adds some zest to your vanity.

4. EO Peppermint Hand Sanitizer is safe and gentle on skin. A refreshing blend of essential oils make this hand san a pleasure to use. Also available in Lavender.

5. Tammy Fender The Purist Hand Sanitizer keeps hands free of germs with a botanical blend. Includes echinacea to boost immunity and antiseptic tea tree oil.

6. Intelligent Nutrients Sanitizer kicks 99.9% of germs to the curb without leaving hands stripped or sticky. Clean, refreshing scent.

7. Jao Brand Refresher combats two winter skin woes at once. This blend of germ fighters and natural moisturizers hydrate skin while protecting against contaminants.

*Disclaimer: Help support EcoSalon! Our site is dedicated to helping people live a conscious lifestyle. We’ve provided some affiliate links above in case you wish to purchase any of these products.

Related on EcoSalon
Endocrine Disruptor Triclosan Found in 50 Percent of Newborns
Taking Toxic Triclosan Out of Your Soap (By Making Your Own)
The 5 Best Immune System Boosters to Prevent Colds and the Flu

The post How to Stay Germ-Free This Flu Season Without Toxic Antibacterial Soaps appeared first on EcoSalon.

Avon is the latest company to announce plans to remove triclosan from its beauty and personal care products.

In 2010, the FDA acknowledged that triclosan was no more effective than simple hand washing with soap and water at preventing the spread of bacteria and fungi. But unlike soap and water, triclosan comes with some undesirable side effects, mainly the ability for bacteria to become resistant to it and other antibacterial products.

Triclosan is considered to have health risks for its potential to cause an increased risk of allergies. It is also implicated in negatively impacting hormones, slowing cognitive function an causing reproductive harm. The ingredient is found in color cosmetics, lotions and creams, shaving products, hand sanitizers and antibacterial soaps, detergents and toothpastes. It has also been identified as causing damage to marine ecosystems.

Avon responded to its shareholders and customers who wanted the chemical removed after  competing brands including Johnson & Johnson and Procter & Gamble announced they would eliminate triclosan from their products. The Campaign for Safe Cosmetics congratulated Avon on the move, while also pushing the company to take further actions to improve the safety of its cosmetics.

“The Campaign for Safe Cosmetics congratulates Avon for finally giving triclosan the boot,” Janet Nudelman, co-founder of the Campaign for Safe Cosmetics and director of program and policy at the Breast Cancer Fund said in a statement. “It’s a hormonally active chemical that has no business being in cosmetics and personal care products.  But triclosan is just the tip of the iceberg when it comes to unsafe chemicals in cosmetics.  We want Avon to adopt a comprehensive policy that declares chemicals linked to cancer, birth defects and other adverse health effects to be off limits in cosmetics and to support stricter regulation of the $71 billion cosmetics industry so that everyone is protected.”

Avon hasn’t said officially yet what will replace triclosan, but many companies have replaced it with quaternary ammonia compounds (or quats), the most common being used is benzalkonium chloride.

“Unlike triclosan, quats can hide in plain sight on labels, where they go by many different names,” reports the Guardian. “The health data on quats is also more conclusive than the evidence on triclosan: In studies of the health effects of professional cleaning products, researchers have found that exposure to quats contributes to respiratory distress and irritation, exacerbating asthma in those who are already asthmatic and prompting asthma in those who are not.”

Avon cosmetics are sold throughout the U.S. and in more than 140 countries. The company’s sales in 2012 were $10.7 billion, making it the fifth largest cosmetic company in the world and the second largest direct selling operation. Avon employs more than 6.4 million representatives who still go door-to-door selling the products. But now, health-minded consumers may actually want to let them in.

Find Jill on Twitter @jillettinger

Related on EcoSalon

Taking Toxic Triclosan Out of Your Soap (By Making Your Own)

Walmart Bans Toxic Chemicals From Cosmetics, Cleaning Products

DIY: Go Eco (and Healthy) with Your Deodorant

Image: the bees knees daily

The post Now You Can Answer the Door: Avon to Phase Out Triclosan, the Useless Chemical Nobody Wants appeared first on EcoSalon.

Seasonal Allergies at an All-Time Suck

Whoa – did you feel that? That wasn’t another earthquake. That was the collective sneeze of 40 million allergy sufferers. Thanks to a wetter-than-usual winter and warmer temps this spring (likely linked to climate change), we’ve been graced with an explosion of beautiful blooms”¦ and a near-record high pollen count to go with it.

If you’re not one to stop and smell the roses for fear of your head exploding, there are some safe and natural treatments to try before reaching for potentially dangerous prescription meds. Keep windows closed, change clothes after coming in from outside (and maybe even take a quick shower), try natural herbal remedies like capsaicin and Quercetin and use a neti pot to flush offending allergens from your nasal passages.

FDA May Wash Its Hands of Triclosan

Natural health advocates have been saying it forever and now the federal government is catching on: triclosan – the germ-zapping ingredient in hand sanitizers and antibacterial soaps – is potentially unsafe for humans and wildlife. The chemical additive has long been accused of disrupting the body’s endocrine system and possibly helping to create antibiotic-resistant bacteria. The FDA, at the urging of Rep. Edward J. Markey (D-Mass.), will review the safety of the ubiquitous chemical later this year.

Nap It Out

Stumped on how to solve a tough problem? Sleep on it! A recent study published in Current Biology concludes that napping after working on a difficult task may make the job easier to do upon awakening. Researchers believe that the dreaming brain can see connections it might not notice when it’s awake, boosting its ability to process and store information tenfold.

Image: Sydigill


The post This Week in Health News appeared first on EcoSalon.

The flu is already spreading like a Malibu wildfire in my Bay Area community with dozens of kids out the first few weeks of school and contaminated parents unable to play nurse.

It’s going to happen, no way of avoiding it all together, but there are some simple steps to build immunity and combat the spreading of germs at home.

Some people opt for the influenza vaccine, which the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) says protects against the three main flu strains causing the most illness during the season. This year’s vaccine contains three new virus strains: A/Brisbane/59/2007(H1N1)-like virus, A/Brisbane/10/2007 (H3N2)-like virus and B/Brisbane 60/2008-like antigens.

The government says it is believed the 2009-10 influenza vaccine can protect you from getting sick from these three viruses, or it can make your illness milder if you get a related but different influenza virus strain.

For those choosing not to get the shot, most methods of fighting and containing the enemy involve keeping your hands and surroundings clean and lying low when you know you’re not well and can infect others. The good news for the planet is that none of the hygiene practices require harmful chemicals to kill the enemy.

1. Hand Washing

Discovered only 150 years ago, frequent hand washing is the most effective way to keep germs from making you sick and spreading to your pals. According to Every Day Health, it doesn’t matter what kind of soap is used as long as the water is warm and the soap lathers and spreads over the hands sufficiently to trap the germs. Soap and water works best (meaning you don’t have to use a chemical-doused sanitizer that can actually lead to worse viruses). Here are the steps recommended by the CDC:

– Wet your hands with clean water – warm, if available – and apply soap.
– Lather by rubbing hands together; be sure to cover all surfaces.
– Continue rubbing hands together for 15 to 20 seconds – sing “Happy Birthday” twice in your head.
– Thoroughly rinse hands under running water to ensure removal of residual germs.
– Use paper towels or an air dryer to dry hands and then, if possible, use a paper towel to turn off the faucet.

2. Sponge Duty

Sponges used to wash dishes and wipe down counters harbor massive amounts of bacteria, at times even salmonella.  While we are urged to replace them often to keep our kitchens clean, many sponges are made from plastics which means even more petroleum waste in our environment.

According to Living Green, the added environmental danger with many synthetic sponges is that they often contain Triclosan, an antibacterial and antifungal agent banned by Canada in household products this past August. Even though it’s registered with the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) as being a pesticide, it is frequently used in many antibacterial soaps, deodorants, toothpastes and cosmetics. The chemical is linked to health problems and harms fragile aquatic ecosystems and waterways.

While replacing sponges regularly is a good hygienic practice, stick to buying ones made from cellulose fiber (cellulose is sourced from plantation forests or recycled). Read the label carefully as some cellulose sponges are impregnated with polyester, a form of plastic. Keep your green cellulose sponge as dry as possible between uses, to avoid bacteria.  Sterilize them by soaking for a few minutes in boiled water, or try a dilute bleach/hydrogen peroxide solution.

The U.S. Dept of Agriculture also recommends killing bacteria and mold by microwaving a damp sponge or dishwashing a sponge with a drying cycle (the method my family uses).

3. Stay Home When you are Sick

Take cover when you are sick (just like covering your cough) by keeping away from other students, workers and friends. State health departments urge employees to stay home when they are infected for good reason. It’s the right thing to do for you and your community. Ask a friend or a loved one to make a nice pot of organic chicken soup, crank up the vitamins and heal thyself. Work can added undue stress that undermines a quick recovery. Work can wait.

4. Resist Sharing Personal Items

You don’t share brushes to avoid lice. And you don’t share eating utensils, drinking glasses, towels or other personal items if you want to avoid flu and colds. While sharing is a good gesture, there is a big exception when it comes to hygiene.

5. Love Yourself More

An excellent reference guide by Our Home Remedies follows the non-nonsense Farmer’s Almanac approach of boosting your immune system with rest, healthy foods like fresh leafy veggies and organic fruit, Vitamin C, garlic and thyme, and beneficial teas. We know when we are not loving ourselves because we don’t sleep and become run down, dehydrated and tend to reach for high sugar foods to revive us, rather than what we really need.

Image: hlkljgk

The post 5 Natural Ways to Fight the Flu appeared first on EcoSalon.