3 known toxins in American-made soaps
Key Takeaways
In 2016, the FDA banned several chemicals, which studies found were not generally recognized as safe or effective, from use in consumer antimicrobial soaps.
The FDA, however, deferred its decision on three of these chemicals.
Eight years later, environmental agencies are still calling on the FDA to take action to ban these remaining chemicals, which studies show may be dangerous to human and environmental health.
Studies show that OTC consumer antiseptic washes contain potentially harmful ingredients. But while health agencies like the FDA are aware of research on these risks, some of these ingredients are still used in certain antiseptic soap products.
Anna Soehl, MSc, a researcher at the Green Science Policy Institute, says that “while evidence is missing to indicate that over-the-counter antimicrobial soaps are any more effective at preventing people from getting sick than plain soap and water, commonly used antimicrobial ingredients belong to a chemical class linked to reproductive, respiratory, skin, and neurological harms, and may contribute to the global health threat of antimicrobial resistance.”
FDA drags their feet
In 2016, the FDA finalized a rule establishing that 19 antimicrobial ingredients found in some consumer antiseptic washes were not Generally Recognized as Safe (GRAS) and not Generally Recognized as Effective (GRAE). The agency therefore banned some of these ingredients from use in antiseptic washes.[]
However, the FDA deferred its decision on three of the ingredients—benzalkonium chloride (BAC), benzethonium chloride (BZT), and chloroxylenol (PCMX)—for a year to allow for more safety and efficacy testing. Then, it deferred the decision again—and again.
Eight years later, the agency has extended its deferral six times, according to the Green Science Policy Institute.[] The group argues that the three deferred chemicals pose consumer-based risks for adults and children—whom they say may use these products at home and in school—and that some of the ingredients have been linked to adverse health effects in toxicological studies. The group also raises risks to public health, citing concerns like bacterial resistance, which can be linked to overuse of antimicrobials.[]
The 3 toxins: BAC, BZT, and PCMX
BAC, BZT, and PCMX all fall under a type of chemical called quaternary ammonium compounds (QACs). QACs, considered chemicals of emerging concern, have increased in use in recent years in response to the COVID-19 pandemic.[]
The three chemicals have been linked to reproductive, respiratory, skin, and neurological harms.[] Some institutes, like the Toxic Use Reduction Institute at the University of Massachusetts Lowell, have recommended that QACs be listed as toxic or hazardous substances.[]
What health agencies recommend
The CDC currently recommends that people use plain soap and water to wash their hands, pointing to the FDA’s 2016 decision and saying that studies have not found antimicrobial soaps to be better at cleaning one’s hands than plain soap and water.[] However, the CDC maintains that professionals in healthcare settings may need to use antimicrobial handwashes.
The delayed FDA decision is relevant to consumer soaps and does not pertain to all soaps used in healthcare settings. These soaps, however, could still be used in other healthcare settings, such as private offices or by hospital cleaning staff.
“While the FDA delay is with regards to over-the-counter soaps and not those used at healthcare settings, doctors can engage their facility management and motivate them to use [the] safest available products,” Soehl says.
"[This can] prevent the unnecessary uses of antimicrobials, [and] include not only soaps, but also cleaning disinfectants as well as furnishing and building material choices."
— Anna Soehl, MSc
Soehl encourages medical providers to look out for their own health in addition to educating their patients that OTC antimicrobial soaps are, per the CDC, “no better than plain soap at preventing people from getting sick and their ingredients may not be safe for long-term, daily use.”[]
What this means for you
Health agencies including the CDC and FDA recommend washing your hands with soap and water over using consumer antimicrobial hand soap. The FDA has banned some ingredients in consumer antimicrobial hand soap, saying that they were found to be not generally recognized as safe and effective. However, the FDA has yet to ban all potentially risky ingredients from these soaps.