Bio Briefs

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Flinn Foundation

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Nov 09, 2010
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Myth of a germ-free world: A closer look at antimicrobial products

Tags: arizona state university, biodesign institute, infectious disease

[Source: ScienceDaily] - Killing microorganisms has become a national obsession. A pair of antimicrobial compounds known as triclosan and triclocarban are lately the weapons of choice in our war of attrition against the microbial world. Both chemicals are found in an array of personal care products like antimicrobial soaps, and triclosan also is formulated into everyday items ranging from plastics and toys to articles of clothing.

But are these antimicrobial chemicals, as commonly used by people across the nation, really safe for human health and the environment? More pointedly, do they even work? According to associate professor Rolf Halden, of the Biodesign Institute at Arizona State University, the answer to these questions is an emphatic "No."

For more information: Myth of a Germ-Free World: A Closer Look at Antimicrobial Products