In everyday life, antibacterial soap is often placed in high hopes, and many people believe it can eliminate all bacteria and leave no residual harm. However, this is actually a great mistake.
First, it must be clear that no antibacterial product can eliminate all bacteria. Bacteria are numerous and they have different structures, biological characteristics and survival mechanisms. The active ingredients in antibacterial soap, usually trichlorfon or trichlorfon, although they can inhibit or kill some common pathogenic bacteria, have limited effects on a large number of other bacteria, especially some resistant bacteria, sprouts and bacteria that survive in special circumstances. For example, antibacterial soap may be difficult to completely remove because of the presence of a number of multiple drug-resistant bacteria in hospital settings.
Moreover, antibacterial soap is not without residual hazards. Antibacterial components in these soaps are used and are left on the skin surface, into sewers, etc. Long-term use may present potential risks to human health. Studies have shown that antibacterial agents such as trichlorfon may interfere with the human internal system and affect normal endocrines such as thyroid hormones, especially for specific groups such as pregnant women, children and adolescents, which may have adverse effects on their growth and development. At the same time, antibacterials remaining in the skin can lead to skin allergies, such as rashes, itching, etc., which disrupt the normal microbial community balance of the skin and make it more susceptible to infection with other pathogens.
From an environmental point of view, the chemical components of antibacterial soap can have a negative impact on ecosystems as domestic sewage discharges into water bodies, soils, etc. They may accumulate in aquatic bodies, affect the growth and reproduction of aquatic organisms and interfere with the normal functioning of aquatic ecosystems. Some micro-organisms may also have drug resistance following long-term exposure to low-intensity antibacterial agents, which can spread between micro-organisms and may eventually lead to an increase in antibacterial bacteria in the environment, posing a greater threat to public health.
In fact, for ordinary families and most everyday scenes, the use of general soap and the right hand washing methods can effectively remove most of the bacteria and viruses on hand for the purpose of cleaning up and preventing the spread of disease. Common soap, through its surfactants, can remove pathogens such as bacteria and viruses from the skin surface and then wash them away through running water. The correct hand-washing steps include wetting of hands with liquid water, full arm-carriage, back-of-hand, finger-sews, nails, etc. with soap, which lasts more than 20 seconds and is then thoroughly washed with water.
In special places, such as hospitals, food-processing workshops, while more stringent health-control measures are required, they do not rely solely on anti-bacterial soap to solve the problem, but rather require a comprehensive health-management system that includes a combination of strict disinfection norms, training of personnel and environmental clean-up.
We should properly understand the role of anti-bacterial soap and not be misled by its exaggerated propaganda. In daily life, the rational use of general soap for clean-up, with emphasis on the development of hygiene practices, such as hand-washing and keeping the environment clean, is an effective way to prevent the spread of disease and to ensure health and help to reduce the potential harm to the human body and the environment from unwanted chemicals.
