Sludge Watch ==> TRICLOCARBAN - accumulates in sludge - antibiotic resistance

[maureen.reilly at sympatico.ca]

http://www.upi.com/NewsTrack/view.php?StoryID=20060725-113150-1641r

NewsTrack - Science

Cuts in antibacterial soap use sought

CHICAGO, July 25 (UPI) -- Officials in Cook County, Ill., have asked the 
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency to reduce the widespread use of 
antibacterial agents in soaps.

The chemicals are of "no proven benefit to public health," says Terrence J. 
O'Brien, president of the Metropolitan Water Reclamation District of Greater 
Chicago.

In fact, some experts worry the compounds might contribute to the growing 
problem of germs developing resistance to antibiotic drugs, the Chicago 
Sun-Times reports.

The American Medical Association and Association for Professionals in 
Infection Control have said there's no evidence that antibacterial soaps 
prevent infections in homes. The antimicrobial compounds are used in 
three-quarters of all liquid soaps and nearly a third of bar soaps, the 
newspaper says.

After people flush them down the drain, about 75 percent of the triclocarban 
and triclosan compounds survive treatment at sewage plants and end up in 
waterways and as sludge spread on farm fields, one study found.

The Soap and Detergent Association says exposure to triclocarban has no 
effects on animals or aquatic life and poses no known threat to humans.

...................................................................................



http://www14.brinkster.com/locrianRhapsody/spring2004.html

The Truth About Antibacterial Soaps--And Why You Should Avoid Them

Antibacterial soaps are used in households across the country where they 
amount to a $16 billion-a-year industry. Some 72 percent of all liquid soap 
sold in the United States now contains antibacterial ingredients.

Consumers use these products because they have been marketed as an effective 
and necessary way to lower the risk of infection. However, many scientists 
fear that the widespread use could lead to a strain of resistant bacteria, 
or superbugs, and cause the ingredients to lose effectiveness for the times 
when they really are needed.

And now, the first major test in people's homes has found that using 
antibacterial products apparently offers little protection against the most 
common germs. The study represents the first time scientists have attempted 
to evaluate the products under real-life, day-to-day conditions in homes.

In the study, published in the March 2, 2004 journal Annals of Internal 
Medicine, people who used antibacterial soaps and cleansers developed cough, 
runny nose, sore throat, fever, vomiting, diarrhea and other symptoms just 
as often as people who used products that did not contain antibacterial 
ingredients.



all chemicals have open-source (free) access to understanding 'what they 
are' & 'how they are dangerous' as well as 'what to do if'. the information 
is contained in a MSDS, or a Material Safety Data Sheet. i'm not saying you 
should study this stuff, but if chemicals are in your house perhaps you 
should know what they are. i did a quick search on MSDS, & found a pretty 
good resource, Material Safety Data Sheets. read any label on the back of a 
cleaning product & it should provide you with a list to read about. & then, 
check this out, Demystify Material Safety Data Sheets with the 
MS-Demystifier.


Spring Cleaning

Rational or not, spring cleaning is a tradition many of us still like to do, 
if for no other reason than to turn over a new leaf, and for this I am 
offering here some of my favorite nontoxic cleaning recipes. I must say, I 
do love to get winter dust out of my house when daylight is returning in the 
spring. There is nothing like the sun streaming in the windows to show all 
the cobwebs. I like opening the windows and doors to circulate fresh air to 
chase out the stale indoor air of a closed up house.



The Five Basics for Nontoxic Cleaning

Baking Soda
A commonly available mineral full of many cleaning attributes, baking soda 
is made from soda ash, and is slightly alkaline (it’s pH is around 8.1; 7 is 
neutral). It neutralizes acid-based odors in water, adsorbs odors from the 
air... can be used as a gentle nonabrasive cleanser for kitchen counter 
tops, sinks, bathtubs, ovens, fiberglass...

Washing Soda, sodium carbonate
A chemical neighbor of baking soda, it is much more strongly alkaline (pH 
around 11). It releases no harmful fumes and is far safer than a commercial 
solvent formula, but you should wear gloves when using it because it is 
caustic []. It cuts grease, cleans petroleum oil, removes wax or lipstick, 
and neutralizes odors in the same way that baking soda does. Don’t use it on 
fiberglass, aluminum or waxed floors, unless you intend to remove the wax.

White Vinegar and Lemon Juice
White vinegar and lemon juice are acidic, they neutralize alkaline 
substances such as scale from hard water. Acids dissolve gummy buildup, eat 
away tarnish, and remove dirt from wood surfaces.

Liquid Soaps and Detergent
Liquid soaps and detergents are necessary for cutting grease, and they are 
not the same thing. Soap is made from fats and lye. Detergents are synthetic 
materials discovered and synthesized early in this century. Unlike soap, 
detergents are designed specifically so that they don’t react with hard 
water minerals and cause soap scum. If you have hard water buy a 
biodegradable detergent without perfumes; if you have soft water you can use 
liquid soap (both are available in health food stores).

Mold Killers and Disinfectants
For a substance to be registered by the EPA as a disinfectant it must go 
through extensive and expensive tests. EPA recommends simple soap to use as 
a disinfectant There are many essential oils, such as lavender, clove, and 
tea tree oil (an excellent natural fungicide), that are very antiseptic, as 
is grapefruit seed extract, even though they aren’t registered as such. Use 
one teaspoon of essential oil to 2 cups of water in a spray bottle (make 
sure to avoid eyes). A grapefruit seed extract spray can be made by adding 
20 drops of extract to a quart of water.

* Caution
Make sure to keep all home-made formulas well-labeled, and out of the reach 
of children.