Antibacterials Soap Allegedly Damaging Reproductive Organs

Antimicrobial soap (antibacterial) containing triclosan and triclocarban allegedly can damage reproductive organs, decreased sperm quality, and production of thyroid and sex hormones.

Because of that, a lover of environmental nonprofit groups sued the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) because it is considered to have failed to regulate and supervise the distribution of antimicrobial soap that turned out to be harmful to the reproductive organs.

The popularity of antimicrobial products has grown in recent years and more and more products found in homes and offices, where germs can easily spread from person to person.

Dangerous soap circulation lawsuit has been filed with the U.S. District Court in Manhattan. However, representatives from the FDA and the Department of Health and Human Services U.S. declined comment.

Plaintiffs argued that the FDA violated federal law by claiming the product is safe to use soap.

"More than 30 years ago, the FDA is the agency first proposed to regulate the product is used without a prescription, but obviously, the products remain on the market without any regulation," said group representative of the plaintiffs, as quoted from Reuters, Friday (30 / 7 / 2010).

The environmentalist group also revealed that due to negligence of the FDA, consumers should feel the adverse effects of triclosan and triclocarban through a variety of health products without a prescription, such as antimicrobial hand soap, which many on the market.

In 1978, the FDA has proposed to ban triclosan and triclocarban trade, about six months or two years after the publication of the latest research. But no action was taken until 1994, when some of these materials have been reclassified.

The group also sued the FDA to immediately complete the research on this case and is limited by certain deadlines. But this group just does not sue manufacturers or retailers that sell these dangerous products.