I was reading in the Mens Health magazine for May 2008 and came across an article called “Cleanliness is Next to Girliness” which goes a little something like this:
What’s on your washcloth? An antimicrobial ingredient in some soap may sap your testosterone levels, say University of California at Davis scientists. They found that when triclocarban enters a man’s bloodstream through his skin, it mimics testosterone, causing his body to ratchet down production of real T in response, say study author Bill Lasley. Ph.D.
Low testosterone has been linked to everything from infertility to depression. Go to hpd.n.m.nih.gov for a full list of soaps and other toiletries that contain triclocarban.
The new study was published online this week by the journal Endocrinology (“Triclocarban enhances testosterone action: A new type of endocrine disruptor?“).
Now, before we get started, that UC Davis report says:
Triclocarban-containing products have been marketed broadly in the United States and Europe for more than 45 years; an estimated 1 million pounds of triclocarban are imported annually for the U.S. market.
So, there is a lot of this crap floating around in the US. And according to the National Institute of Health, here is a list of products which contain this chemical:
- Coast Deodorant Bar Soap-Original Scent
- Mountain Fresh Dial Antibacterial Deodorant Bar Soap
- Safeguard Antibacterial Deodorant Soap
- Zest Deodorant Bar Soap, Whitewater Fresh
- Safeguard Antibacterial Deodorant Bar Soap
- Dial Antibacterial Deodorant Soap
Of course, that last one is the one I’ve been using for about 5 years! Oh, and to make matters worse, all over the house I’ve got Dial Antibacterial Foaming Soap. Guess what the active ingredient is? Yep.
The report also went on to say:
“This finding may eventually lead to an explanation for some rises in some previously described reproductive problems that have been difficult to understand,” said one author, Bill Lasley, a UC Davis expert on reproductive toxicology and professor emeritus of veterinary medicine. More analyses of antibacterials and endocrine effects are planned, he said.
Consumers should not take this study as guidance on whether to use triclocarban-containing products, Lasley said. “Our mothers taught us to wash our hands well before the advent of antimicrobial soaps, and that practice alone prevents the spread of disease.”
Now, they say that the following symptoms can result from low testosterone:
- Low sex drive
- Erectile dysfunction (ED)
- Increased irritability or depression
- Fatigue
- Increased body fat
- Loss of body and facial hair
- Reduced muscle mass and strength
- Inability to concentrate
- Decreased bone density; osteoporosis
So, I don’t know about you, but I like my Testosterone. I dumped every freaking Dial product in my house, and I won’t be going back. Now I need to find some all natural soap that is devoid of all these freaking chemicals.
It was interesting to know about these stuff, since I was before writing this comment a Zest Consumer, but now NOT anymore
As an email subscriber to OMB you can’t even imagine how pissed off I got reading about the anti-microbial soap’s effect on testosterone production. I am convinced this is the most valuable chemical on the planet as everyone keeps trying to “take it away” from us. Bastards!
I cannot believe this. I have Dial soap in my bathroom but the ingredients did not list this. I’m thinking about doing a blog about this now.
Thanks John. This is unfortunately the reality of our lives what we think is good is actually bad and vice versa. Eat healthy, exercise and do all those right things and then the “soap” that keeps you “clean” causes problems.
Stands out of the way of the stampeding women rushing to get the soap for their other halves!
Isn’t there a case here for over analysing. Anything and everything that we seem to test these days has something bad associated with it. What happened to the days when we just got on with things.
hehehe
I’m with you Mark!
John
Sarah,
The dial soap that I have specifically lists triclocarban on it. Both the bar soap, and the foaming hand soap. So, if you don’t see it in the list the stuff you have is probably ok.
John
He-he… I don’t see this products in the our shop-markets and can’t use any antibacterial soap production.
Why would it still be legal to use these chemicals?
I guess we gotta vote with our cash…
Kim:)
Ironically another study years ago reported antibacterial soaps were little more effective than ordinary soap.
So one company sells us the testosterone inhibiting soap and another sells viagara. hmm…