Many hand soaps, body soaps, dishwashing liquids, kitchen
cleaners, and other soaps claim to be antibacterial, i.e. capable of killing
the bacteria on the surfaces they touch. However, these claims may be called
into question if a new rule proposed by the United States Food and Drug
Administration (FDA) is officially implemented.
If the new rule goes into effect, manufacturers of antibacterial soaps will be required to prove that their antibacterial soap(s) work better than washing with plain ordinary soap and water. They will also be required to prove that there are no long-term harmful effects of using these antibacterial soaps. There has been recent concern that prolonged use of antibacterial soaps may cause pathogenic bacteria to become resistant to the antibiotics commonly used to fight disease. There is also concern that the antibacterial soaps may cause a hormonal imbalance in the human body.
The primary active ingredient is triclosan in liquid soaps and triclocarban in hard bar soaps. Hormones produced by the thyroid decrease in rats exposed to these chemicals. This is highly suggestive the same could happen in humans too. The FDA first proposed to not allow triclosan in cleaning products back in 1978. However, no official action was taken then. Subsequently, the usage of this harmful chemical proliferated to include about 2,000 different products labeled "antibacterial." In fact, it is difficult to avoid antibacterial soaps as they are used in almost every public bathroom in the United States.
Microbiology quality assurance businesses will surely be
involved in testing the
effectiveness of antibacterial soaps for the government, soap
manufacturers, and others concerned about this issue. Microbiology quality
assurance businesses are also often consulted by other businesses and
individuals who are concerned about the effectiveness of cleaning products. For
example, the food industry
must maintain sterile surfaces where food is processed and employees' hands
must also be sterilized while they are handling the food. In this instance, a microbiology quality assurance
business may be consulted to test surfaces that come in contact with food and
employee hands when using different cleaning agents and different cleaning
techniques. Bottled water plants, beer breweries, meat packing facilities,
seafood processing plants, health spas, and nursing homes are more examples of
businesses that may need these types of services.
Contact
Biolumix to learn more about microbiology quality assurance testing.
Biolumix
3928 Varsity Dr.
Ann Arbor, MI 48108
Phone: (734) 984-3100
Fax: 734-222-1830
Email: info@mybiolumix.com
http://www.mybiolumix.com/
https://plus.google.com/103841943418192727689/
3928 Varsity Dr.
Ann Arbor, MI 48108
Phone: (734) 984-3100
Fax: 734-222-1830
Email: info@mybiolumix.com
http://www.mybiolumix.com/
https://plus.google.com/103841943418192727689/
