If adverts on television on anything to go by, the human race is obsessed with being clean. Not that regular showers and twice daily tooth brushing are a bad thing; it’s that we’ve taken cleanliness to an art form. Think of your kitchen cupboards. How many antibacterial products do you have? Chances are good that you have at least antibacterial dish-washing liquid and surface cleaner. What about your bathroom? Do you have antibacterial hand soap, shower cleaner and toilet cleaner?
It turns out that too many antibacterial products are not only bad for the environment; they can have a negative effect on you too. Over the last decade or so, as the obsession with germ-free has increased, various studies have shown that we could be doing ourselves and our children more harm than good by trying to create sterile environments.
A recent study (published in November 2010) by researchers from the University of Michigan in the United States has revealed that Triclosan (found in antibacterial soaps and toothpaste) and Bisphenol A (found in the protective lining of food cans) adversely affect our immune systems and can actually cause allergies. A ten-year-old study by Tufts University School of Medicine in Boston revealed much the same. According to the Tuft researchers, antibacterial products kill off good and weak bacteria, leaving behind the strong and resistant bacteria which lead to compromised immune systems. This particularly problematic when you have small children.
Age-old wisdom has it that children need a peck of dirt. Being exposed to germs and bacteria early on in life allows for the development of a strong, robust and healthy immune system. Your children may get the occasional cold or upset tummy, but the long-term effects will be of great benefit.
Of course, it’s difficult to convince mothers, especially first-time mothers, that they don’t need to sterilise dummies every time they fall on the floor and that it’s not the end of the world if your dog licks your toddler’s face. The message that good mothers protect their children from unseen dangers, such as germs and bacteria on the living room carpet, is compounded by the countless adverts showing blissfully happy children sealed in a protective barrier running to the open arms of their loving mother. Given that ideal, it’s not surprising that most mothers would rather die than admit they use ordinary laundry detergent instead of the kind that provides 48-hour germ protection.
One solution to the problem is to fully embrace the green, clean living movement. Certain common household products are known for their antibacterial properties. White vinegar and lemon, for instance, can be used in a number of home-made cleaning solutions to great effect. If you are reluctant to abandon chemicals completely, however, you can take the advice of Dr Stuart Levy, who led the Tuft University study. Dr Levy suggests that we return to plain old chlorine bleach, hydrogen peroxide and alcohol when it comes to cleaning. These materials are antibacterial but, according to Levy, they don’t leave behind a residue that continues to kill bacteria for hours after use; this gives good bacteria a chance to make a come back.
As with all things in life the trick is to find balance. Obviously you don’t want flies congregating on your kitchen cutting board, and you don’t want your kids licking the dustbin, but you don’t need to panic at the first sign of sticky hands or mildew in your shower either.
Jade Scully is a copywriter excited about writing copy and stories, blogging about the world and editing. She currently and regularly publishes her stories on a number of blogs. Jade loves animals and hopes to begin writing copy for the animal rescue charity TEARS as her contribution to the cause.
