Antimicrobial products are almost everywhere these days. From antibacterial hand soap to cleaning supplies to disposable wipes to clean your cart at the grocery store, antimicrobial properties are in so many things that we use daily. However, scientists are now asking: How safe are these products on ourselves and on our environment? And do they really work at keeping us safer and being less sick?
According to associate professor Rolf Halden, of the Biodesign Institute at Arizona State University, the answer to these questions is, “No.” Many antibacterial compounds have been found in our rivers, streams and drinking water (harming naturally occurring algae and other organisms), and hand washing with plain soap and water is as effective as antibacterial cleaning agents. Click here to learn more about antimicrobial products’ effect on our bodies and environment.