Antibacterial Products May Cause Children’s Allergies
June 22nd, 2012 tmccoy
According to a new study by John’s Hopkins researchers and published in the Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology, antibacterial products and preservatives that are found in soap, toothpaste and mouthwash may be giving children allergies to objects in everyday life.
Researchers tested children for the presence of IGE antibodies. These are part of the body’s immune system. Levels of IGE grow in response to the present of an allergen. Children exposed to the highest levels of triclosan, an antibacterial agent, had more than double the risk of having food allergies, and almost twice the risk of having environmental allergies.
The researchers concluded that their findings show that antibacterial agents “may play a role in immune system development.”
