London - Expectant mothers have been warned that germ-killers in soaps and about 2 000 other everyday products could stunt the growth of their unborn child.
Pregnant women are already advised to avoid a long list of items from alcohol and caffeine to soft cheeses and pate.
But now scientists have found found that germ killers marketed as “antimicrobial” or antibacterial in products such as hand soaps, toothpastes, cosmetics, detergents, carpets, paints, school supplies and toys may pose a risk to mothers and their babies.
A report by Arizona State University said there is growing evidence that the compounds triclosan (TCS) and triclocarban (TCC) can lead to developmental and reproductive problems in animals and potentially in humans.
While it was difficult to show the exact effect of these germ-killers in humans, another study has found a link between another antimicrobial, butyl paraben, which is commonly used in cosmetics, and stunted growth in newborn babies.
The new study found traces of TCS and TCC in pregnant mothers and foetuses and said that because of the chemicals’ widespread use they were almost impossible to avoid.
It was also feared that the additives could contribute to antibiotic resistance, a growing public health problem, according to the findings presented at the 248th National Meeting & Exposition of the American Chemical Society, the world’s largest scientific society.
Research scientist Dr Benny Pycke said: “We looked at the exposure of pregnant women and their foetuses to triclosan and triclocarban, two of the most commonly used germ-killers in soaps and other everyday products
“We found triclosan in all of the urine samples from the pregnant women that we screened. We also detected it in about half of the umbilical cord blood samples we took, which means it transfers to foetuses. Triclocarban was also in many of the samples.” - Daily Mail