Health Care

Widely used chemical for killing bacteria causes muscle weakness in animals.

"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."

It might be everywhere, but I don't use anti-bacterial or big brand soap or fluoride or big brand toothpaste, so I'm not rubbing it on my skin or putting it in my mouth. I also wear almost exclusively 100% cotton clothes. I've been skeptical of the chemicals used by government's corporate agents for a long time, and I do a pretty thorough job of avoiding them.