Soaps, toothpaste and other personal care products we use in the home could be making our children more allergic, and prone to diseases such as asthma.
Antibacterials and preservatives in the products affect children’s immune systems, increasing their risk for environmental and food allergies.
Researchers have discovered that children with high levels of triclosan, an antibacterial agent used in personal care products, also had IgE antibodies in their blood, which are produced in response to an allergen.
A similar pattern was seen in children with high levels of parabens, preservatives that are used in cosmetics.
In a survey of 860 children aged from six to 18, researchers from Johns Hopkins Childrens’ Center found that those with the highest levels of triclosan in their urine had nearly double the risk for allergens compared to the children with the lowest levels.
(Source: Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology, 2012; doi: 10.1016/j.jaci.2012.05.006).
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