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Widely Used Antibacterial Chemical May Impair Muscle Function

Posted by Soulskill on from the it-wasn't-me,-it-was-the-one-armed-antibacterial-chemical dept.

New submitter daleallan writes "Triclosan, which is widely used in consumer handsoaps, toothpaste, clothes, carpets and trash bags, impairs muscle function in animal studies, say researchers at UC Davis (abstract). It slows swimming in fish and reduces muscle strength in mice. It may even impair the ability of heart muscle cells to contract. The chemical is in everyone's home and pervasive in the environment, the lead researcher says. One million pounds of Triclosan is produced in the U.S. annually and it's found in waterways, fish, dolphins, human urine, blood and breast milk. The researchers say their findings 'Call for a dramatic reduction in use.' It's in my Colgate Total toothpaste, and in fact, preventing gingivitis is the only use that may be worthwhile, although this makes me think twice about continuing to brush with it." This isn't the first time Triclosan has been in the news over safety concerns.

7 of 252 comments (clear)

  1. Who would have thought... by korgitser · · Score: 5, Funny

    ... that a substance used to harm life would harm life?

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    FCKGW 09F9 42
    1. Re:Who would have thought... by Rei · · Score: 5, Funny

      Hey, I've been around Slashdot long enough to learn that plutonium in baby food is healthy for babies, and anyone who says otherwise is a socialist hippie bent on destroying the global economy. ;)

      --
      We're practicing our labials.
    2. Re:Who would have thought... by HungryHobo · · Score: 5, Funny

      Atomic oxygen is: fortunatly we have the enzyme Catalase in our cells to turn hydrogen peroxide into O2 and water rather than Atomic oxygen and water.

      Tell you what: I'll sit in a chamber filled with 100% pure oxygen for an hour and you do the same in a chamber filled with 100% pure nitrogen then we compare notes.

    3. Re:Who would have thought... by rayzat · · Score: 5, Funny

      Probably dead already. Zombies posting AC in order to hide the coming surge.

  2. Re:It's just random use of antibiotics. by 12WTF$ · · Score: 5, Funny

    Some of the healthiest guys are sewer workers, they rarely take a sick day, because their immune systemsare so strong, since they are constantly fighting off bacteria.

    But their breath is knock down nasty and their farts are room clearing because sewage workers' internal bio flora has a larger population of anaerobic and methanogenic bacteria. Apart from that they are really nice guys.

    --
    Cryonics - Keep cool and carry on.
  3. Re:And this children ... by Black+Parrot · · Score: 3, Funny

    ... is how you put a competitor out of business.

    Slip a little Triclosan into their vodka?

    --
    Sheesh, evil *and* a jerk. -- Jade
  4. Re:Can't stand your neighbor's dog yepping ? by queazocotal · · Score: 4, Funny

    So chocolate makes zombie dogs, but onions kill them properly?