As a mother, I am a relentless wiper-downer of my baby’s hands and bottom. It’s not the best thing, because in 2016, the FDA ruled that OTC antiseptic handwashes were not as safe as we imagined, and as advertisement campaigns claimed. This, in light of the ongoing debate on the effectiveness and safety of triclosan—a key ingredient in antibacterial products, including handwash liquids and gels, hand sanitisers and wet wipes (also toothpastes, but you don’t need to bin your tube yet). It has put a huge question mark on the usage and safety of these products. We spoke to experts, to help you decide whether to use these or not.
Are antibacterial products effective?
According to an FDA ruling, to be effective September 2017, of 22 ingredients used in antibacterial washes, 19 did not qualify to be GRAS/GRAE (Generally Recognised As Safe/Effective) and thus banned. This grading is based on an evaluation of the risk-to-benefit ratio. If a certain ingredient is found to be more beneficial than the health risks it poses, the product is GRAS/GRAE. In a separate ruling, the FDA stated that the same applied to hand sanitisers and antibacterial wipes, too. “It has now been documented through various clinical trials that washing hands with regular soap and water may be as good as any of these products,” says Dr Amitabh Parti, Additional Director, Internal Medicine, Fortis Memorial Research Institute, Gurgaon. “So there is no definite advantage to their use.” So it really comes down to the regular washing of hands with soap (which is not necessarily antibacterial) and water.
The health risks
“In general, all handwashes are relatively safe for use by adults, and are released with a warning issued to prevent any internal use or ophthalmic exposure,” says Dr Parti. This warning needs to be paid heed to. The experts are also unanimous in their opinion that these products be kept away from children, especially those below the age of 2. “Most sanitisers and wet wipes are alcohol-based,” says Dr Amitabha Ghosh, Consultant, Internal Medicine, Columbia Asia Hospital, Gurgaon. “Children have a habit of putting their hands in their mouths and rubbing their eyes, both of which can be dangerous if an alcohol-based product has been used/rubbed on their hands. Some antibacterial products also have an ammonium content, which is indicated in skin disease, such as eczema, making these avoidable.”
“Not only does the overuse of these products kill the good bacteria, but it also leads to the emergence of MRSA (the resistant strain) bacteria,” says Dr Charu Goel Sachdeva, Senior Consultant, Internal Medicine, Venkateshwar Hospital, Delhi, who also warns against the indiscriminate use of these products, amongst pregnant women and the elderly.
The truth about triclosan
One of the banned ingredients (in the US) in antibacterial washes, wipes and sanitisers, is triclosan. “Triclosan is an antibacterial chemical, which also happens to be fat soluble,” explains Dr Parti. “What that means, for you, is that it is easily absorbed into the body, and stays there longer. It is said to interfere with the hormonal mechanism of the body if sufficiently large quantities are absorbed,” he says, adding that repreated exposure can have a cumulative effect.
The effects on the environment
A majority of chemicals that go into antibacterial products are not water soluble, but fat soluble, which is to say that they can percolate into the ground water and stay there. “Since these are all antibiotics, the presence of large quantities of these chemicals in the environment can produce antibiotic resistance among bacteria,” explains Dr Parti. This, without taking into account that wet wipes, as well as the plastic packaging of sanitisers and handwashes, are non-biodegradable.
The bottom line
Use them if a doctor has asked you to for a medical reason. But if you’re just lazy to walk to the loo in a mall, there’s no excuse for it. Even out on the road, you will mostly have access to soap (carry some in your bag) and water: lasting the duration of the Happy Birthday song. But if you can’t avoid it because you’re out on a desert safari and you’ve just touched camels, go ahead and get your dirty hands clean.
Are antibacterial products effective?
According to an FDA ruling, to be effective September 2017, of 22 ingredients used in antibacterial washes, 19 did not qualify to be GRAS/GRAE (Generally Recognised As Safe/Effective) and thus banned. This grading is based on an evaluation of the risk-to-benefit ratio. If a certain ingredient is found to be more beneficial than the health risks it poses, the product is GRAS/GRAE. In a separate ruling, the FDA stated that the same applied to hand sanitisers and antibacterial wipes, too. “It has now been documented through various clinical trials that washing hands with regular soap and water may be as good as any of these products,” says Dr Amitabh Parti, Additional Director, Internal Medicine, Fortis Memorial Research Institute, Gurgaon. “So there is no definite advantage to their use.” So it really comes down to the regular washing of hands with soap (which is not necessarily antibacterial) and water.
The health risks
“In general, all handwashes are relatively safe for use by adults, and are released with a warning issued to prevent any internal use or ophthalmic exposure,” says Dr Parti. This warning needs to be paid heed to. The experts are also unanimous in their opinion that these products be kept away from children, especially those below the age of 2. “Most sanitisers and wet wipes are alcohol-based,” says Dr Amitabha Ghosh, Consultant, Internal Medicine, Columbia Asia Hospital, Gurgaon. “Children have a habit of putting their hands in their mouths and rubbing their eyes, both of which can be dangerous if an alcohol-based product has been used/rubbed on their hands. Some antibacterial products also have an ammonium content, which is indicated in skin disease, such as eczema, making these avoidable.”
“Not only does the overuse of these products kill the good bacteria, but it also leads to the emergence of MRSA (the resistant strain) bacteria,” says Dr Charu Goel Sachdeva, Senior Consultant, Internal Medicine, Venkateshwar Hospital, Delhi, who also warns against the indiscriminate use of these products, amongst pregnant women and the elderly.
The truth about triclosan
One of the banned ingredients (in the US) in antibacterial washes, wipes and sanitisers, is triclosan. “Triclosan is an antibacterial chemical, which also happens to be fat soluble,” explains Dr Parti. “What that means, for you, is that it is easily absorbed into the body, and stays there longer. It is said to interfere with the hormonal mechanism of the body if sufficiently large quantities are absorbed,” he says, adding that repreated exposure can have a cumulative effect.
The effects on the environment
A majority of chemicals that go into antibacterial products are not water soluble, but fat soluble, which is to say that they can percolate into the ground water and stay there. “Since these are all antibiotics, the presence of large quantities of these chemicals in the environment can produce antibiotic resistance among bacteria,” explains Dr Parti. This, without taking into account that wet wipes, as well as the plastic packaging of sanitisers and handwashes, are non-biodegradable.
The bottom line
Use them if a doctor has asked you to for a medical reason. But if you’re just lazy to walk to the loo in a mall, there’s no excuse for it. Even out on the road, you will mostly have access to soap (carry some in your bag) and water: lasting the duration of the Happy Birthday song. But if you can’t avoid it because you’re out on a desert safari and you’ve just touched camels, go ahead and get your dirty hands clean.