The four articles we read were about the use of antibiotics on factory farms, antibiotics causing superbugs among livestock, antimicrobial wipes and soaps making us sick, and incorporating antimicrobials into the manufacture of hospital furnishings. All of these articles were alarming and disheartening. It seems like there is no escape from harmful manmade antibiotics and they are being used recklessly and without good cause. I am hopeful that as more studies come out showing the negative impacts of these commonly used chemicals, we decide to change course and not use them so carelessly.
Obtain a Material Safety Data Sheet (MSDS) from your workplace or from the workplace of a family member or friend. Material Safety Data Sheets are chemical information sheets created by chemical manufacturers that all employers are required to obtain and keep for any potentially hazardous chemicals in the workplace. For this blog post, I tried to find a material safety data sheet (MSDS) from UCSF. The MSDS I found is for "Equi-soft Foam Antimicrobial Handsoap" Here is a link to the MSDS: https://cleanhands.ucsfmedicalcenter.org/docs/Product%20information/Arichive/Equi-soft_Foam_MSDS.pdf Review the MSDS and answer the following questions: What are the health risks associated with this chemical? There are four chemicals in the antimicrobial handsoap: 2-methylpentane-2,4-diol; amines, coco alkyldimethyl, n-oxides; Polyethylene Glycol; and benzalkonium chloride. The health risk associated with these chemicals is they can cause eye irrita...
What was once seen as a way to protect us has now bitten us in the behind. I believe that things should be thoroughly researched before being put out for the masses to enjoy.
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